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

PRESS STATEMENT 15th July 2001

SO JUST HOW ARE THE PEOPLE INVOLVED?

One major criticism of the West Cornwall Hospital Services Review process is that it is unresponsive to the clearly expressed views of local people. News last week that a specially selected group of clinicians are to meet in secret session in Tavistock at the end of the month to draw up workable options for the future of the hospital has added fuel to these arguments. Yet Jo Yelland, Project Manager for the Review, stated in a letter to West Cornwall HealthWatch earlier this month:

"…this approach, involving people in the decision-making process, is a relatively new way of working for the NHS and therefore to some extent we are all learning as we go. Because we are sharing our thinking as we go along this does mean that we cannot answer all the questions people may have at this time…"

HealthWatch members have responded with wry amusement to these comments, and still await news of how and when local people will actually be involved in this decision-making. Meanwhile, not surprisingly, the community is forced to the conclusion that decisions may already be as good as made. Spokesperson Marna Blundy said this week:

"So far, involvement with the general public has taken the form of presentations to local councils etc., where health service managers have informed selected audiences about their plans for the review. Next month we understand that the plans drawn up in Tavistock will be outlined to local groups and individuals. This is very obviously not the same as making an active contribution to decision-making."

These concerns follow changes in the role of the Reference Group, a body formed last year to "contribute to and influence health plans that affect the west of Cornwall". The thirty members of the Reference Group, drawn from public and voluntary sector organisations serving the local population, were to seek the views of their parent organisations and represent these at the Reference Group meetings, to highlight the views and concerns of the public. The Reference Group was identified in the Project Plan for the West Cornwall Hospital Review as the principal stakeholder. However, the Reference Group was told at its last meeting at the end of June that matters relating to the future of West Cornwall Hospital were no longer to be discussed since the issue was now the responsibility of the Chief Executives of the Trusts and Health Authority. Chairman of the Reference Group, Councillor Terry Murray of St Ives, has written to the Chairman of the West of Cornwall Primary Care Trust expressing his concern:

"If this is the case then patients, their representatives and the general public have been excluded from the review process. It is not enough to say that there will be a consultation period once the Review is published. This method of dealing with patients and the general public was deplored by the Government in the NHS Plan. To continue the Review without any community involvement flies in the face of the guidelines set down in the NHS Plan and certainly does not meet the principle of a "bottom up" approach to consultation concerning the NHS."

Meanwhile, HealthWatch has been delighted with the recent response from members of the public. Copies of 140 letters will this week be delivered to the Cornwall Community Health Council and the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust; and handed in at the Department of Health in London, when M.P. Andrew George, PDC Chief Executive Jim McKenna, and HealthWatch member Joe McKenna travel up to meet Hazel Blears, the Hospitals Minister . Each letter expresses the view of local residents, and each says the same - keep services at West Cornwall Hospital. Further letters will be welcome:
address them to:
HealthWatch
c/o The Cornishman,
Parade Street,
Penzance.