If you thought the idea of an evening spent listening to local councillors, debate next years council budget was depressing, you'd be right, however the prelude to the meeting in the form of a briefing given by Stuart Bain Chief Executive of East Kent Hospitals, referring to the future of emergency treatment for major trauma, wasnt without some concerns either.
I understand that management of East Kent Hospitals are currently "engaging" with staff, doctors and local MP's over changes in dealing with major trauma. This apparently follows from advice by the Royal College of Surgeons, the drift of discussion (I wont use the word consultation just yet, since that's the formality were we comment on official proposals that are usually set in stone) anyhoo if you'd like to bone up on the subject this document might help.
The jist of East Kent Hospitals University Trust thinking is that improved resources will be funnelled into the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, and similar plans being suggested for the Medway Maritime Hospital at Gillingham and the new Pembury Hospital (That's the one even the locals struggle to get to) the rationale being that major trauma injuries currently treated in London Hospital's should be dealt with closer to home.
It sounds a good idea and maybe it is, however many of us remember that its not too long since you couldn't get anything but the most basic emergency treatment here in Thanet, so I'd like to see some confirmation that Margate Hospital is not once again to be sidelined and rundown.
After Mr Bain had made his presentation questions were invited, Cllr Iris Johnson piped up expressing appreciation thanks and gratitude to the chief executive for coming to the meeting, Cllr Ezekiel raised important points about the difficulty relatives and friends would have visiting particularly those on low incomes, Cllr Ian Driver, also bought up travel time (as someone who once worked in Ashford my best time, late for work! is around 40minutes) and more importantly the issue of treating the elderly, nationally it's clear that some old people are neglected and over the years I've seen short comings first hand, however from his response to that last issue and my own correspondence with Mr Bain and resulting in a prompt resolution, I'm inclined to think that things are genuinely improving.
When the "consultation" proper takes place which I understand will start in April, lets hope we get all the facts and that focusing resources in Ashford does not mean the thin end of the wedge in which we see Margate Hospital reduced once again to cottage hospital status despite being in the middle of East Kent's largest population.
UPDATE Since posting this it has been suggested that maybe I have attributed things that I shouldn't etc. see comments So as ever you may wish to read this with caution, it is my personal take and recollection.
Tony , i was there too! it was not sandy E that raised the points about travel and low incomes, it was one of the two gregorys... Ithink the one with the beard. boring meeting, bloke from hospital avoided answering anything
ReplyDeleteKen Gregory was talking about the distance from loved ones and the cost of travel for them. Sandy was talking about the more minor things eg signposting in the hospitals themselves.
ReplyDeleteSorry I think your right Sandy mentioned signage, ice packs (is that for the beers) and food.
ReplyDeleteI'll just edit the posting a bit but I'm sure Sandy did make the point of distance along with Ian Driver Ken Gregory and I dare say others
Actually, QEQM's mortality figures for emergency surgery are half that of the national average, despite having an elderly and poorer population. By contrast, the William Harvey has a higher mortality and complication rate. Fail to see how making the sickest and most vulnerable travel 60-90 minutes to Ashford is going to help improve outcomes. QEQM is an excellent hospital - this is just an attempt to save money at the people of Thanet's expense. These decisions are being made at Trust HQ in Canterbury - I doubt Thanets's best interests are topic the list....
ReplyDelete@9:33, you make some very important points, in light of which, I's say, this decision is madness.
ReplyDeletePerhaps improvement of outcomes is not uppermost in the minds of the corrupt bureaucracy?
Apparently at the KCC Health and Scrutiny Committee meeting back in September MR Tolputt asked which Hospital a trauma patient would be taken to from Broadstairs and he was told Medway! It is quicker to drive there than Medway. So in Thanet we won't even benefit from the transfer of our resources and the cost of travelling even more for friends family etc. I don't care what reassurances Chief Executives give, this is in the long term clearly going to reduce the quality and breadth of service at the QEQM!
ReplyDeleteReally crazy. Still can't understand why this is being considered. My aunt is a Sister at Margate hospital and has also worked at Ashford. She tells me that Margate is now the main centre of excellence for surgery, yet they want to move everything 40 miles away!!!
ReplyDeleteCheck viaMichelin- it's 42 miles from QEQM to WHH (CT9 4AN to TN24 0LZ)
ReplyDeleteanon 11.02
ReplyDeletecheck out Common Purpose and its links to all the services including the NHS then it will all make sense
Whatever - I think you are missing the point.....don't fall off your bicycle in Thanet if East Kent Trust gets its way and moves all emergency surgery to Ashford - whether its 30 miles or 42 miles, it's a long way to go to get your spleen removed in a hurry.
ReplyDeleteReverse everything they pretend to put into place for your own good and you will get to the truth. That its not for the public's good at all, but for their corporate friends behind the scenes funds through lucrative contracts.Common sense has nothing to do with it.
ReplyDelete