Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
EASTERN and COASTAL KENT NHS
PRIMARY CARE TRUST
We need your views to help finalise the GPs plans for providing health
services in Dover
Come and take part in our workshop
On: Wednesday 11th June
At: 10 am to 12 noon
(with lunch to follow)
Venue: The Ark, Noah's Ark Road
Dover
RSVP: Hannah Price by 4th June
01304 216858
Hannah.price@eastcoastkent.nhs.ukGuest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Unfortunately I was a bit late in getting round to putting this up, due to various other things, as Hannah asks to be RSVP'd by the 4 June. But Im sure if anyone calls they will try and accommodate.
It is of course a very interesting topical topic at the moment in Dover...healthcare.. so now is an extra chance to have an input.
Thank you - I have asked permission to attend!
D
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Well done David Hannent.
I hope this event is well attended for all our health sakes.
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
Its important that we all have a say in this matter's so as many people that can attend the better after all it efects us all one way or another as the review on this is very much an ongoing subject.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i hope that it is not a sop, so that people think they are being listened to.
the issue is too important for that.
Clearly it matters that we air our views, but my experience is that the "consultation" process is a tick box affair that allows the decision makers to claim they have consulted, but which does not impact on the final decisions, which have already been taken and ratified. But that should not stop us involving ourselves in this, even if only to monitor the process and put hands up when we notice the failings.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
sadly bern, it is the oldest trick in the game of the bureaucrats.
i remember the buckland hospital enquiry when terry nunn and others were involved.
big heated meeting at the town hall, everyone got to speak, but everyting had been decided in advance of the meeting.
dover harbour board are doing the same now, with their development plans.
The meeting yesterday was very enlightening, Contrary to expectations a new attitude seems to be prevalent and the meeting reflected that. The ark is a superb location but was far from full. It was a meeting called to get opinion for the 10 doctor consortium for Dover on what services the public wanted - and they got it with both barrels!
lots of ideas and information that I felt the two hours wasnt enough. At the end we told the consortium that they must not just consider Dover but Deal and the surrounding area if the service was to be big enough to satisfy the critical mass necessary to maintain a larger than minimum facility that the people were now demanding - eg 24 hrs opening - bed s and full emergency services.
The organisers openly admitted that the public pressure had hastened the timescale and decisions will be made in the next 3 months. The famous Dr Sewell was there and informed our group that it was unfortunate that the Government opinion of hospitals was to follow the Californian system where a hospital was for operations and emergency only and that every other type of less urgent care should be handled by private or local services. Unfortunately those services dont exist in this country as in america where the main provision is private care.
We pressed to drop the title community hospital and just call it a hospital with the capability of growth. every past provision has been out of date as soon as its built - so a more open mind to flexibility and expansion was needed.
The announcement that Ashford is to get a new community hospital that day didnt go down too well. I made personal contact with the Trust Project leader and told him that the people of dover would hold him personally responsible and he agreed to stand up to that requirement. He said that he had an open mind and had only been in the job for 6 months so wasnt carrying historical baggage.
the new Dover hospital group that I am assisting will continue the fight - see the poor quality website that I have started at newdoverhospitalgroup.org.uk for information. If anyone wants to volunteer to improve it please contact me!
Badges are now available and I suspect that car stickers will follow as the momentum grows. We must ensure tha this time Dover and the area around as well as Deal get the hub that is needed not some temporary patch job. Hundreds of dover and deal people have spoken to me in the past weeks agreeing with the same thoughts. we have been let down before so the mandate of the people will be heard. Its not some sideline ,the group has thousands of signatures and hundreds of supporters so the public will be listened to - after all it is a crucial facility for a world class town.
The meeting was 10.00-12.00. I work. Perhaps that might be an indicator of the reason fpor the poor attendance? And what agenda would that suggest? I have just found a leaflet through my door from the Tory candidate for Dover telling me that the NHS is safe in their hands, or words to that effect................yah de yah de yah.............
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
surely you trust chas??
he has some very nice suits and a portfolio of properties in the area.
the NHS is now safe, someone sugested that he owned a rather large leech farm.
