REVIEW OF FUTURE HEALTH SERVICE PROVISION
Following an extensive review process over the last 11 months, the Scrutiny Committee at Dover District Council has delivered its major review of future health service provision in the district.
A comprehensive report includes details of information gathered and wide ranging recommendations. It welcomes assurances given by the Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust in support of the Committee's firm conviction that the existing locally provided health services must be maintained. The review also recognizes concerns expressed by the local community in relation to access and waiting times for health services, and requests health authorities to continue to work with the Committee in monitoring these matters. All recommendations were presented to Cabinet today and will be presented to Council on Wednesday, (see attached).
This follows a Committee recommendation from 20 May, adopted by Cabinet, that Cabinet works closely with the Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust and the East Kent Hospitals Trust to locate a central and accessible site in Dover for Community Hospital Services for the population of Dover and the district.
Cllr Jim Hood, Chairman of the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee, said: "We would like to thank everyone who has cooperated with this extensive review, and to all the witnesses who have put in a great deal of effort working with us and helping us to deliver these conclusions. We urge everyone in the community to work constructively with the Primary Care Trust and Hospitals Trust to deliver the best possible option available for health service provision for the people of Dover District."
For more information, please call Democratic Services on (01304) 872304, or you can view the full report at
www.dover.gov.uk/scrutiny/reviews.asp
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee made the following recommendations to Cabinet and Council:
(a) That the Cabinet be urged to lobby Kent Police and the Highways Agency in the strongest terms to find a solution to the unacceptable problem of lorries on the A20 occupying both lanes, particularly during the times of heavy traffic volumes or congestion, and as a consequence restricting or blocking the access of emergency services to Dover.
(b) That the committee welcomes the assurances given by the Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust in support of its firm conviction that the existing locally provided health services must be maintained and requests that the committee be updated on any developments in health service provision.
(c) That an invitation be extended to the Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust and the East Kent Hospitals Trust to attend the meeting of the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee to be held on 16 September 2008 to inform the committee of the final decision on the replacement of Buckland Hospital and the services to be provided at the new community hospital.
(d) That the Council express its disappointment to Kent County Council over the gap in provision between the end of the Patient and Public Involvement Forum's and the start of the new Local Involvement Networks (LINks).
(e) That the Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust, the East Kent Hospitals Trust, South East Health Ltd and local General Practitioners be urged to work together to reduce administrative burdens on staff and to develop compatible computer systems for a single patient record system.
(f) That the Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust, the East Kent Hospitals Trust and the two Practice Based Commissioning groups be urged to provide as many new high quality local health services as possible in both the new community hospital and in the community.
(g) That the committee recognises the concerns expressed by the local community in relation to access and waiting times for health services and it requests that the East Kent Hospital Trust and Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust continue to work with it in monitoring these matters.
(h) That while the committee welcomes the promising efforts being made to improve Patient Transport Services by the East Kent Hospital Trust, it urges that measures be considered to address the burden being placed on families having to travel regularly from the Dover District to visit patients at either of the two acute hospitals.
(i) That concern be expressed over the cost of hospital car parking and that the East Kent Hospitals Trust be urged to introduce free or reduced charges for parking at the new community hospital in Dover and the network of East Kent hospitals generally.
(j) That in considering the network of intermediate care beds in the Dover District the Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust be urged to make a small provision of intermediate care beds for children.