Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
21 September 2008
18:446389We're being fobbed off!! says CLLR Hannent
David H (Hannent) councillor of my ward has been out and about delivering leaflets to the residents, one thundered onto my doormat this very morning, in a huge solo and valiant effort trying to regenerate the hospital idea into something more than we are getting. Although 30,000 people signed the petition demanding a hospital, and 1,000 marched including myself..the PCT did what they were presumably going to do all along...ignored everything and everybody and went their own sweet way.
"Their(the PCT) application was strongly supported by the DDC" says David Hannent, so it looks as if the Dover District Council have failed to represent the people of Dover and failed to fight for what the people want.It would be interesting to hear their view on it all.
What we all wanted was a general hospital(preferably in the Whitfield area because of the expandibility)
what we are getting is a day care centre, open daytime only, with no admissions, no beds, no room for expansion, no real parking, and in the centre of town(no expandibility).
I suppose the only aspect of the outcome that appeals is the fact that its in the centre of town but the whole initiative as started by Reg Hansell has fizzled into nearly nothing.A great passionate and united cry from the people of Dover has been frittered away on the wind...their needs torn up into a thousand pieces
Guest 661- Registered: 16 Mar 2008
- Posts: 241
21 September 2008
19:526391How unusual for the people of Dover to not be heard, or again ignored. Not something we are used to. How on earth did they get it so wrong.
A dog is just not for christmas save some for boxing day
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,302
21 September 2008
22:216394The PCT and The EKHT knew what they were going to do and did it. The whole "consultation" was a ruse. They called me a liar when I said the wards would close. They had a staff meeting "that never took place" and I was struck off the mailing list.
They've got what they want. End of story.
4291
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
21 September 2008
22:336396did anyone seriously expect a full blown general hospital in a town of less than 40,000 people?
the fact of the matter is we will have a better facility than we have now, and accessible for most people in need.
up and running in 3 years.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
22 September 2008
00:006399No Howard. What we are getting is a slight return of some of the services that we used to have at Buckland, relocated with some updates, but still less than we once had. The new clinic we are getting will bring with it traffic problems, accessability problems for those not in Dover and the usual total disregard for the opinions of the people of Dover and its surrounding district. We are being fobbed off with their much touted 'central Dover location' and will still have to be shipped to Ashford (fast outgrowing its own catchment area) or Margate for treatment. This was never just about Dover but about the needs of all those who live, work and pass through this corner of Kent. Whitfield is a more desirable sight not only because of its potential for expansion (remembering all the new housing government policy seeks to crowbar into the area) but also for its accessability to the whole district. It is also about caring for patients who will be cut off from family and friends when they need them most, while undergoing hospital treatment, because even by car Ashford or Margate will take a lot of time to visit (by public transport both become a days excersion just to visit for a couple of hours). The present arrangement just means everyone suffers and this proposal will only entrench that arrangement, with little hope for change because of where they want to put it. As for the town itself we will now have less hope of getting better social facilities with a large site so close to the town centre being taken up with the new clinic, or half way stop between the doctors and a hospital somewhere else.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
22 September 2008
07:366403Spot on Chris. There is so much documented evidence about location rather than "choice" playing a major part in recovery when hospitalised. The real need is for good comprehensive local services, not partial services leading to the need to be, as you say, shipped out to other areas. This is smoke and mirrors. The population may be in the tens of thousands, but we are a major port and destination as well as terrorist target and these have to be factors. We are indeed being fobbed off - this ruse of placating the people while short changing them is tired and thin and we have seen through it. Yes, it is better to have some rather than no facilities, but surely it is better to have adequate and approprate facilities?
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
22 September 2008
08:30640622 September 2008
12:486413Yes we delivered hundreds of leaflets at the weekend - words can be seen on
www.newdoverhospitalgroup.org.uk.
Unfortunately when the arguments that there is not the support for a hospital in Dover are made against this request they always add "General,acute etc" as if that is what is being asked for - not so!
Deal hospital is a proper community hospital with beds for the elderly. Leave it as it is its fine - then let us have some recouperative beds and a proper accident unit. that makes it a hospital not a clinic. The population in question is that of the district not just the town. Sandwich and many parishes supported our need.
We should then link our facilities with all the clinics around.
Anyway it was apparent that the wishes at every so called consultation meeting were being ignored from the start and the mercury published the plans straight after the last one so the architects had been working long before.
I was in WH for a week last year and had 20 visits from Dover. Where is the saving to the country in that - sustainability??? Back in in a few weeks so that starts again.....
Anyway the big issue now is going to be parking in this town - of course at the moment you can still park in some streets in castle ward without restriction. When the hospital car park opens on the demolished william muge site the charges will be £1.7 to £6 as currently at buckland. Thus the DDC can make a fortune by putting meters on all those roads - will people pay that to the NHS or park in the street.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
22 September 2008
14:166417To add to the parking revenue will be all the residents parking schemes DDC will introduce around Salisbury Road, Castle Avenue etc. Not only will you pay to park you will have to pay to park outside your own home. No wonder DDC strongly support the proposal when there is all that extra revenue for them.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
22 September 2008
18:126429It's hard enough to park there as it is!!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
22 September 2008
19:336433bern
you refer to the terrorist threat and possible emergencies caused by us being a port town.
that is what i thought.
however, i posted a few months back that the emergency services i.e fire, ambulance and coastguard, were not
concerned about the lack of hospital, that had plans in place.
without backing from them, we are left with just a small town.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
22 September 2008
20:296435When I asked the police how their emergancy evacuation plans would take in Aycliffe I was told that all 1.500 plus residents would have to "walk over the hills". It does not inspire much confidence in their assurtions that they are not bothered.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
23 September 2008
07:086446Perhaps we need to factor in who pays the wages of the emergency services before we assume that their stance is a real reflection of local need? That isn't to say the emergancy services personnel are being untruthful, or that there is any corruption, but the statements and PR are managed by people other than the ground forces.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
23 September 2008
19:446492if they do not give support to a major hospital in dover, our claims for one look very flimsy.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
23 September 2008
21:196502Well DHB were bought off with the promise of an empty ward if they have an emergency, what promises were given to the emergency services?
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
23 September 2008
21:566506no idea chris, the fact of the matter is, the 999 crowd do not support the idea of a general hospital here.
the situation is the same with the dtiz.
we can have as many wish lists as we like, no-one else has come in since 1945 with a better offer.
just a few offers of taking over one derelict site now and again.
