Co-ordinator: Marna Blundy, 4 Botallack Moor, St Just, PENZANCE, Cornwall TR19 7QH
Tel / Fax 01736 788107
Email: westcornwallhealthwatch@yahoo.co.uk

PRESS STATEMENT 2 July 2001

PUBLIC MAKE THEIR FEELINGS CLEAR

In the past week or so, West Cornwall HealthWatch has received around ninety letters from members of the public concerned about the future of West Cornwall Hospital. These letters are in addition to the many letters of support from local parish and town councils, and local organisations. Their sentiments are consistently clear - we need a fully functioning emergency-admitting hospital here in Penzance. Here are extracts from just a few of the letters received:-

"I am local and I am extremely concerned to prevent any downgrading of medical and surgical services currently available in Penzance. Stories of nightmare journeys from our west of Penwith area to central Truro are plentiful and well documented. Similarly, stories of patients having endured such journeys only to be confronted with services at Treliske being stretched to breaking point resulting in very long waits are also plentiful and well documented. To worsen this existing situation is crazy."

"Many years ago I was born in West Cornwall Hospital. Many times since it has helped me and my family, and I know that it is there for me in times of crisis. We have all experienced centralisation now, and realise that it is a flawed philosophy. We need good services available in our locality - not perfect, not rocket science, but good care as we have always experienced it, no less. It is at the heart of what we think of as our community."

"No matter how efficient Treliske is supposedly being made, when it comes to emergency cases or visiting for the people of west Cornwall, Truro is too far and will discriminate against the people who live here."

"I see no point in having a heart attack in Penzance, since I must be transported to Truro before I'll be treated - by which time I'll probably be dead!"

"As a father of two, ages 4 and 7, it worries me greatly to know that when I'm at work my children are at great life and death risk as my wife does not drive. How can we survive accidents when we have to somehow get the children to Treliske?"

"I am an asthmatic. Please do not close the A&E or I and people like me cannot have a life. Please take notice - a doctor on 24 hours is essential."

"I am writing to say that we NEED 24 hour healthcare, A&E and doctors at West Cornwall Hospital for local residents and the many visitors to the area. Please, please, please LISTEN TO US!"

"We are writing to complain about the intended erosion of the West Cornwall Hospital Casualty and Emergency Department. This unacceptable move is against the consensus of opinion and interests of people in the Penzance area and has been decided without proper consultation or regard for the interests of the local community."

"I am writing to support the case for maintaining and improving the services provided to the west Cornwall community by West Cornwall Hospital. To have to travel to Treliske for treatment is simply unacceptable, especially when Government policy and common sense requires a reduction in travel and car use."

"I write to emphasise the importance of keeping the West Cornwall Hospital open and operating an emergency department. Considering the geography of the locality, it is essential for the inhabitants to get there quickly. Besides, cost of transport and parking at Treliske is almost impossible now and the roads are not good. The elderly are affected by this more than others."

"West Cornwall Hospital must stay - as always - small is beautiful - big gets lost. Please keep West Cornwall for West Cornwall."

"I wish to point out that my family is very much aware of how District Health Authorities work. How they quietly take away certain services which our small hospitals offer. We do not intent this to happen at WCH, and will not only fight against removal of these services but ask for improved service i.e. 24 hour doctors in A&E and emergency medicine. You will not ultimately succeed in closing our hospital here in west Penwith. Cornwall is very much a special case because of its isolation and rurality, and we will not allow the DHA to remove our services piecemeal."

"We need a 24 hour doctor on our Casualty at all times - not just for a few chosen hours a day. Accidents can happen at any time - please don't take away the chance to save our children's lives. The drive to Treliske can mean the difference between life and death."

"We do not feel that Treliske is a suitable distance for an emergency - for a start it would put people off going and maybe a serious injury could go unseen."

"Penzance is a thriving and growing community which will be needing more services for the future - not less!"

"The people of Penwith have to travel far enough now to get to hospital - don't make them travel any further."

"Please, please listen to the views of us, the residents of west Penwith, who desperately want to keep the 24 hour Accident and Emergency department open. I write on behalf of my husband, children and elderly parents, who all believe that this service, if taken away, will affect all of our lives. It is hard enough, in a tourist area, to even get into the nearest town sometimes in the summer. God forbid that in a crisis I have to try and get to Truro. It could mean the difference between a life lost and a life saved. Are you prepared to have this on your conscience?"

From a six year old:
"We need doctors there all the time."

From Redruth and Camborne:
"I am concerned over what is planned for West Cornwall Hospital. I have been a patient on more than one occasion at WCH, and have used the A&E department. Surely Treliske is stretched at the moment and so I can't understand the proposed rundown at West Cornwall. Please - rethink!"

"The Royal Cornwall Hospital at Truro is overloaded by patients coming from all parts of Cornwall and closure of other hospital departments would mean that one hospital had more patients than it could cope with. May I repeat the importance of keeping a viable 24 hour emergency department in Penzance."

From Helston:
"Treliske A&E has a constant bed crisis, therefore patients are waiting anything from 5 - 48 hours sometimes to be taken to a bed. This frequently leaves elderly ladies and gentlemen in the middle of a trolley bay with limited staff to look after them." "Centralisation of hospitals, i.e. putting resources at Treliske, is ridiculous. It cannot cope at the moment. I was in Treliske 4 weeks ago and spent 9 ½ hours on a trolley with a broken nose. If facilities are taken from West Cornwall Hospital, goodness knows what it will be like. Hospitals should be expanded, not reduced. We need more beds, not less."

From Lostwithiel:
"I feel I must support the movement protesting a curtailment of services. Centralisation may cut costs but it cannot replace local knowledge and local care, which is the best."
From Falmouth:
"I am concerned about the current trend of shutting down smaller hospitals and centralising medical facilities. I think it is very important for West Penwith and surrounding area to have a 24 hour doctor facility and A&E department."

From Camelford:
"I fully support the campaign to keep a 24 hour doctor-led A&E department at WCH. Although I live out of the area the obvious knock-on effect is to the detriment of other people in Cornwall who will have to make way for the people in West Cornwall."

From Truro:
"Although we no longer live in Penzance, we have used the A&E department there in the past and feel that it would be very unwise to close this facility. Also, anything to take away the congestion at Treliske is surely welcome. Hoping that the wishes of the local people will be fulfilled."

HealthWatch will send copies of all letters received, both to the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, and to the Cornwall Community Health Council, who have a statutory duty to monitor developments in the health service, and who have the power to veto any proposals to change services. Further letters from the public will be most welcome: you can write to HealthWatch c/o The Cornishman Newspaper, or you can email at westcornwallhealthwatch@yahoo.co.uk.