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

PRESS STATEMENT 10th September 2001

has responded with caution to last week's news about plans for a £100million expansion of health services in the county, as reported last week in the media. In a statement issued today the group say:
"We are pleased to read Brian Milstead's comments on decentralising services and bringing care close to people's homes, a case we have been making for a very long time. We are encouraged also at the plans to develop services for residents in the north and east of the county. However, we have misgivings about what is proposed for West Cornwall. A "Diagnostic and Treatment Centre" offering day surgery and clinics is not the style of service we outlined in The People's Option back in March. Furthermore, the plans for emergency services envisage just the one A & E Department at Treliske, with West Cornwall Hospital functioning we understand as one of a number of minor units offering as yet undetermined levels of acute care at opening times to be decided. Unfortunately, as with everything, 'the devil is in the detail', and the detail does not seem to be what the residents of West Cornwall have consistently called for in recent months.

Furthermore, we are unsure of the relationship between the West Cornwall Hospital Service Review and this Strategic Outline Case (SOC). The Review, headed by Jo Yelland, is we understand to report in November, to be followed by a three-month public consultation before any changes can be made. Yet the Strategic Outline Case has we understand already been approved, which would herald a downgrading of emergency services at the hospital despite protestations to the contrary. It seems that implementation of the SOC is dependent upon government funding and not upon the findings of the Review, which causes us inevitably to question the relevance and validity of the Review process. We have written to the Chief Executives of the Health Authority, Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and Primary Care Trust requesting clarification on this point, and await their replies.

We would be glad to learn more about the SOC, but unfortunately our request to attend the SOC event on Friday 14th September was declined. We understand that this event is organised to engage elected representatives of the Cornish public, and will include discussion on how to secure the greater involvement of users, carers and the general public in the development of plans. It is unfortunate, to say the least, that the health and social care community in Cornwall feel it inappropriate to invite us to attend. This does not bode well for greater public involvement in future health planning."
Marna Blundy 10.09.01