Futures Forum: Comparing costs and personnel numbers of the 1949 NHS
Next month sees a national mass protest against the ‘rapid dismantling of the NHS’:
Futures Forum: The future of the health service: London rally Sat 4th March
The Herald reports today on the campaign:
Call to keep fighting for East Devon’s hospital services
14 February 2017 Eleanor Pipe
‘Cuts are about more than bed numbers’ - campaigners urge people to form united front
Campaigners are appealing for people to keep fighting for community hospitals in East Devon as they warn further changes are imminent.
Proposals to cut inpatient bed numbers by 54 per cent across the region – a move that could see Sidmouth Victoria Hospital lose its entire unit - triggered a huge public backlash as thousands turned out and signed petitions to voice their opposition.
The consultation came to a close on January 6, and the fate of community hospital beds is now in the hands of the NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) governing body, which is expected to make a decision next month.
Campaigners are urging the public to mobilise on behalf of East Devon’s hospitals and challenge any further shake-ups as health bosses strive to plug a predicted £384million deficit by 2020/21.
Di Fuller, chair of the Sid Valley’s Patient Participation Group, said: “There is an apparent hiatus in the consultation and proposed changes to hospital services, but the planning and processes required for the Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) continue under the radar.”
She added that many felt they had done what they could, but said with further consultations due, it was vital for people to keep informed and in a position to fight for their health services.
Chris East, a Sidmouth campaigner who set up an East Devon-wide petition and Facebook group, said: “We want to keep people involved and make them aware that there are things they can do.”
CCG bosses say their raft of proposed changes will benefit patients as they aim to move away from a hospital-reliant system of care to a more efficient, home-based model.
Sidmouth councillor and leader of the East Devon Alliance (EDA) Cathy Gardner argues a bigger campaign is needed to oppose Government-imposed cuts - that, she says, are about more than just bed numbers.
She is urging people to join a national mass protest against the ‘rapid dismantling of the NHS’ to be held in London on Saturday, March 4, and said EDA was organising a coach from the region with spaces available at modest cost.
To keep up-to-date with developments regarding the future of community hospitals, visit www.facebook.com/groups/1796549897279442/ or to book a coach space, email coach@eastdevonalliance.org.uk
Call to keep fighting for East Devon’s hospital services - News - Sidmouth Herald
Last week's District Council scrutiny committee was equally scathing:
RESOLVED that
1. The Scrutiny Committee records its deep regret that the NHS Property Services has declined its invitation to a meeting of the East Devon District Council Scrutiny Committee;
2. The Scrutiny Committee to write to the three local MPs representing East Devon, expressing its concern at the failure of NHS Property Services to agree to attend a meeting of the East Devon District Council Scrutiny Committee, and asks the MPs to raise the matter with the Secretary of State for Health, with a view to his ensuring proper openness and transparency in the work of NHS Property Services, and ensuring proper public scrutiny of the work of the NHS Property Services, by requiring attendance at meetings of local councils when requested to do so;
3. The Scrutiny Committee to write to the Devon County Council Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, expressing its concerns;
4. The Scrutiny Committee to write to NHS Property Services requesting details of the actual market rent for Axminster Hospital, Budleigh Salterton Hospital, Exmouth Hospital, Honiton Hospital, Seaton Hospital and Sidmouth Hospital, with details of how those figures were arrived at.
Minutes of a meeting of the Scrutiny Committee heldat Knowle, Sidmouth on 2 February 2017
County Councillor Claire Wright, who sits on the County's health and wellbeing scrutiny committee, observed:
East Devon District Council’s scrutiny committee blasts NHS Property Services
Tuesday, 14 February 2017 by Claire
East Devon District Council’s scrutiny committee has delivered a stinging rebuke against the secretary of state for health’s private company, NHS Property Services after the managers declined once again to attend a meeting.
A similar thing has happened at Devon County Council’s health and wellbeing scrutiny committee. The company claims to be part of the “NHS family” but it appears, only when it suits them.
The resolution speaks for itself. Congratulations to chairman, Roger Giles and all those councillors who spoke and voted for the resolution.
East Devon District Council’s scrutiny committee blasts NHS Property Services - Claire Wright“East Devon District Council’s scrutiny committee blasts NHS Property Services” | East Devon Watch
Because there are still huge questions:
Futures Forum: The future of Sidmouth's hospital: a question of ownership
Futures Forum: The future of Devon's hospitals: At about half the cost of Wonford (Exeter), the Victoria (Sidmouth) the least costly inpatient's service in the area.
The body proposing the changes will be holding further public consultations next month:
LIMITED NUMBER OF MEETINGS IN EAST DEVON ON LATEST NHS CUTS
14 FEB 2017
From “Save our Hospital Services East Devon” Facebook page, posted by Di Fuller:
“Devon’s Acute Services Review is taking place under the five-year Wider-Devon Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP). The detailed case for change is set out on the websites of NHS NEW Devon CCG and South Devon and Torbay CCG.
The high priority acute services being reviewed are:
• Stroke services, including hyper-acute and stroke rehabilitation (clinician workshops taking place between December 2016 and March 2017)
• Maternity and paediatrics (clinician workshops taking place between January 2017 and March 2017)
• Urgent and emergency care. (clinician workshops taking place between January 2017 and March 2017)
Work is also underway to discuss a range of vulnerable services. “Each of these services has particular challenges and we cannot resolve them with the current model of service delivery. This work is ongoing and will follow a similar process to that of the high priority acute services.”
During March 2017 the Devon STP teams are offering the public limited opportunities to discuss what is important to them about acute services.
This feedback will be collated into themes and called decision-making criteria. There are only 3 sessions in East Devon:
Monday 6th March 10.30-12.30 New Hall, Barrington Street, Tiverton
Monday 13th March 18.00-20.00 Kings School, Ottery St Mary.
Monday 20th March 18.30-20.30 Exeter Corn Exchange
Register 01392 267642 or email d-ccg.CorporateServices@nhs.net”
Limited number of meetings in East Devon on latest NHS cuts | East Devon Watch
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