In March 2001 as a direct result of requests from the general public to put forward their needs to the review team, determining the future of West Cornwall Hospital, West Cornwall HealthWatch published “The People’s Option.”
Its
main conclusions were that West Cornwall Hospital should have:
1.
a fully manned 24 hour doctor-led Accident & Emergency department.
2.
24-hour medical and surgical emergency admissions under the care of appropriate
consultants and junior/trust doctor cover.
3.
a wider range of visiting specialists for outpatient and in-patient treatments,
particularly paediatrics.
4.
increased diagnostic tests and therapies with sufficient back up resources
such as a CT scanner, access to 24hr radiology opinion and improved laboratory
facilities, plus many others that could/should be considered.
5.
improved usage of the mortuary facilities for
post-mortems
6.
guaranteed, punctual, appropriate transfer of patients to a more appropriate
centre when required
7.
a
growth in the services offered by West Cornwall Hospital which may necessitate
a physical expansion of premises
It
was and still remains our view that only
by implementing the above in full, will the National Plan for the NHS be achieved
in Cornwall bringing us, at long last, into line with the rest of the country
We
fully believed that this was wholly in line with the NHS Plan, which states
‘The NHS must also be responsive to the needs of different populations in the
devolved nations and throughout the regions and localities’.
The comprehensive 30 page People’s Option was sent to the Review Team. To our dismay, although its receipt is acknowledged within the report, neither its content nor any of its supporting documentation has never been discussed. Neither of course has ‘The People’s Option’ ever been considered as an option. So much for the promise made at the Queens Hotel meeting in October 2000 that all options would be fully considered – “we’ll look at every one” (David Levine, Consultant Physician at West Cornwall Hospital). Whilst aspects of points 3, 4 and 6 are contained in some of the Review Report’s “models”, the most crucial needs – for 24 hour accident, emergency and admissions – have been dismissed.
The implementation of the NHS Plan in Cornwall is NOT ‘needs led’ as promised by the Prime Minister. It is therefore clear that the needs of the people are of no consequence whatsoever to those in charge of this Review.
Cornwall has a population of 500,000, most of whom will look to only one A&E Department situated at Treliske. This is in sharp contrast to many other areas of the country with similar sized populations where there is an A&E Dept for every 150,000 people. By that token Cornwall should have a minimum of three fully manned 24hour A&E Departments. So why are the people of Cornwall being fobbed off with an inferior health service? Readers can be assured that the alliance in this area will continue to work for better, on behalf of all the residents of the county.
West
Cornwall HealthWatch have to date pointed out that:
·
Cornwall
will be the only County with one A&E Dept and it will be situated in a hospital
that cannot cope today, but will be expected to cope with another 150,00 people
to-morrow!
·
Tour
operators are threatening to go elsewhere
·
The
Review result was pre-determined by health managers - prior to its start!
·
The
People’s Option has never been considered by the Review Team
·
The
NHS Plan in Cornwall is not ‘needs led’ as promised by the Prime Minister
·
Many
other areas of the country have an A&E Dept per 150,000 population -
in Cornwall
we have one A&E Dept in a County with a population of half a million!
Co-ordinator: Marna Blundy,
4 Botallack Moor, St Just, PENZANCE, Cornwall TR19 7QH
Tel / Fax 01736 788107
Email: westcornwallhealthwatch@yahoo.co.uk