The Front Page - Copy 40 ( The Hospital with Charlie Elphicke, Lorraine Sencicle.)
25 October 2009
Charlie is the highly active Conservative Candidate for Dover and Deal.
Today I attended a "stakeholder meeting" where all the people who have to do with the proposed new Dover health facility gathered together to work out where it should go. A long list of people have to do with all this - the Hospital Trust, the Primary Care Trust, the Environment Agency, Southern Water, the current MP, the District Council, the County Council . . . the list goes on and on. Given decision making is fragmented like this, it's a wonder anything gets done, ever.
Anyway, the upshot was pretty simple. The central Dover site option favoured by the current MP was axed. Because the Environment Agency are worried the river will flood. To say I am furious would be a massive understatement. In ten years the only thing to happen locally is we've lost our hospital. Now yet another year has been wasted. The fiasco we've witnessed is a complete disgrace. The people badly need this facility. We need to deliver for the people and I'm sick of all the chat we've had. It's time for action. It's time to get on with it.
It seems we are now left with three possible sites - in the car park of the existing Buckland Hospital (the narrow bridge, the lack of parking and the difficulty of future expansion to a proper hospital are problems), Buckland Mill (possibly too expensive) or Whitfield (it's not in the centre of Dover, so some say it's too far). Obviously, because I am so passionate about a proper hospital for the people of Dover, I am not keen on the car park site as it would be hard to expand. After you've eliminated all the other possibilities, you have to deal with what's left. In my book, it's either the Mill or Whitfield.
Yet whatever happens, a decision needs to be made soonest so we can get on and build the thing. If we continue to go round in circles, we will lose the money. It will then take years to sort out. We must put first the people in need - the people we serve and whose trust we are bound to uphold.Charlie Elphicke.
You will of course have been reading the posts below from the dynamic and tireless campaigner for a hospital facility here in Dover.Yes indeed the posts from Lorraine Sencicle have been hugely fascinating and particularly informative for those of us who dont know the ins and outs of the current hospital situation, but we sit in the wings with fingers crossed hoping for the best. Lorraine is seen here on the right of picture on the left, which was taken at her recent book signing, also in the picture is the Mayor of Dover Sue Jones on the lefthandside of shot.
TOP PICTURE is of course Charlie Elphicke.
Charlie Elphicke speaks on the hospital situation...
Charlie is the highly active Conservative Candidate for Dover and Deal.
Where will Dover's health facility go?
Today I attended a "stakeholder meeting" where all the people who have to do with the proposed new Dover health facility gathered together to work out where it should go. A long list of people have to do with all this - the Hospital Trust, the Primary Care Trust, the Environment Agency, Southern Water, the current MP, the District Council, the County Council . . . the list goes on and on. Given decision making is fragmented like this, it's a wonder anything gets done, ever.
Anyway, the upshot was pretty simple. The central Dover site option favoured by the current MP was axed. Because the Environment Agency are worried the river will flood. To say I am furious would be a massive understatement. In ten years the only thing to happen locally is we've lost our hospital. Now yet another year has been wasted. The fiasco we've witnessed is a complete disgrace. The people badly need this facility. We need to deliver for the people and I'm sick of all the chat we've had. It's time for action. It's time to get on with it.
It seems we are now left with three possible sites - in the car park of the existing Buckland Hospital (the narrow bridge, the lack of parking and the difficulty of future expansion to a proper hospital are problems), Buckland Mill (possibly too expensive) or Whitfield (it's not in the centre of Dover, so some say it's too far). Obviously, because I am so passionate about a proper hospital for the people of Dover, I am not keen on the car park site as it would be hard to expand. After you've eliminated all the other possibilities, you have to deal with what's left. In my book, it's either the Mill or Whitfield.
Yet whatever happens, a decision needs to be made soonest so we can get on and build the thing. If we continue to go round in circles, we will lose the money. It will then take years to sort out. We must put first the people in need - the people we serve and whose trust we are bound to uphold.Charlie Elphicke.
You will of course have been reading the posts below from the dynamic and tireless campaigner for a hospital facility here in Dover.Yes indeed the posts from Lorraine Sencicle have been hugely fascinating and particularly informative for those of us who dont know the ins and outs of the current hospital situation, but we sit in the wings with fingers crossed hoping for the best. Lorraine is seen here on the right of picture on the left, which was taken at her recent book signing, also in the picture is the Mayor of Dover Sue Jones on the lefthandside of shot.TOP PICTURE is of course Charlie Elphicke.