County Council to consider "taking a strong position on protecting our community hospitals and a strong position on resisting any future plans to sell off the buildings"

It is acknowledged that small is beautiful in health care:
Futures Forum: "Small hospitals have a big role to play"

The District Council thinks so:
Futures Forum: District Council "strongly opposes closure and removal of community hospital beds and hospital-based services throughout East Devon"

But the County Council doesn't:
Futures Forum: County Council approves NHS Integrated Care System - despite its own scrutiny committee and the public showing overwhelming opposition

All in the face of uncertainly and austerity:
Futures Forum: Brexit: and the "NHS dividend": and planned CCG cuts in Devon

In Ottery St Mary earlier in the week, we had the makings of a farce: 

Secretary of State for Health visits Ottery Hospital but leaves at speed, James Bond style!

Wednesday, 26 September 2018 4 Comments by Claire

Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care sped out of Ottery Hospital car park, in his ministerial car, with blue lights activated this morning, in an apparently desperate attempt to avoid speaking to me and around a dozen hospital supporters.

Just before he left in a hurry, officials asked me and around a dozen residents to leave the car park where we were peacefully waiting for him to exit. We didn’t have placards and there was no chanting.

Pic: The Secretary of State’s car with blue lights activated leaves the hospital’s rear entrance at speed. For more photos see Twitter and my Facebook account at Claire Wright Independent Parliamentary Candidate

Secretary of State for Health visits Ottery Hospital but leaves at speed, James Bond style! - Claire Wright

But apparently the video of the Minister 'fleeing' has been deleted: 

Why did ITV delete the film of the Secretary of State’s car speeding through Ottery Hosp car park

Friday, 28 September 2018 1 Comment by Claire

ITV’s short clip of Matt Hancock, Health Secretary’s ministerial blue-lighted car travelling at speed through Ottery Hospital’s car park, was deleted yesterday afternoon, less than 24 hours after it was posted.

Given that the video, which was in the process of going viral, must have dismayed both Mr Swire and Mr Hancock, my suspicions are directed firmly at these two.

I will be interested to hear from the two politicians whether they played a role in removing the embarrassing footage.

The tweet in question from political correspondent, Nick Smith, also confirmed that Mr Hancock’s black jaguar, using its security alert blue lights, appeared to be fleeing the apparently terrifying prospect of talking to me and around a dozen peaceable looking residents...

I have a motion at Devon County Council’s full council meeting next Thursday afternoon, urging councillors to take a strong position on protecting our community hospitals and a strong position on resisting any future plans to sell off the buildings.


Why did ITV delete the film of the Secretary of State’s car speeding through Ottery Hosp car park - Claire Wright

Here are details of this coming council meeting:
Agenda for Council on Thursday, 4th October, 2018, 2.15 pm

Meanwhile, if you would like to see a video of a Secretary of State running to his ministerial car, here it is:
Dean Stewart | Facebook
dean stewart on Twitter: "Apologies for poor quality. This is Sec of State Matt Hancock running away from 11 middle aged middle class bystanders @catherine5news @HSJEditor @guardian @drphilhammond @PrivateEyeNews @ClaireWrightInd @MattHancock @HugoSwire @Peston @Davewwest @UNISONOurNHS @DHSCgovuk… https://t.co/UswkMufCyQ"
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