Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
Tonight there was an Annual General meeting of the East Coast NHS PCT.
A select few were sent invitations at short notice ( two days ).
Unfortunately we could not attend.This is how the Health Authorities have carried out there consultation with us all for a few years.
Our MP called me to say he was meeting brickwall after brickwall in his attempts/dealings with the Health Authorities saying we need to regenerate our campaign for our Hospital.
We must encourage the public to demonstate their concerns over their continual delays after the three year delay caused by the Dover District Council.
We have sent the following letter to the trust.
```Attention Haniya Qasim
Dear Haniya,
Why is the notice for this meeting so short?
Legally what notice needs to be given? Can you also inform me in which publications notice has been published and the dates.
It implies that the trust for all its talk on public engagement, really isn't interested in public opinion.or is it that they wish to avoid questions on topics such as the complete lack of progress on the new Dover Hospital ,
It seems to be completely forgotten that the PCT together with the EKUHT promised the residents of Dover at the KCC HOSC that no more services would be removed from BUCKLAND HOSPITAL and that Services removed would be returned while waiting for the new Hospital.
Please could this be raised at the meeting as we cannot attend.
The proposal to close the maternity unit implies that there is no intention to carry out any of past promises to the citizens of Dover District. I would like an answer at the meeting and it to be in the minutes as I am sure this sorry saga will eventually end up in some sort of public enquiry.```
We do need the Public to indicate their concerns.
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
Reg unfortunately nobody seems to take any notice of what I say, I was surprised the maternity unit opened at all but I did say that it would not last long.
The minor injuries unit now operates on reduced hours something else i knew was going to happen.
Charlie I'm sure knows what is going on but plays the "I don't know"game.
Within 12 months there will be no Buckland Hospital.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Dave, I do not know what Charlie knows or does not but your cynicism in this case does you no favours. By his email to Reg, Charlie has shown that he is pro-active on the hospital and willing to put political difference aside for a common cause. By the way, regardless of my differences with Reg his post above is a credit to him for the same reason.
Contrast that to a well documented situation that happened with our last MP. Back in 2005 Paul Watkins warned him that the Trust planning some cut-backs to Buckland. Our MP wrote to the Trust who denied it and the MP left it at that, dismissed what Paul said and put it down to political mischief making. When the election was out of the way the Trust did exactly what Paul said they were planning and our MP had egg all over his face. The fact is our then MP was lazy and only too willing to accept the easy life and not to harrass and pester the Trust as he should have done. We have seen that Charlie is made of very different stuff.
Rather than start again with the he said she said you're wrong and we are right rubbish, how about just getting on with the challenge?
PS - I believe Charlie has a committment to healthcare. We need to throw our weight behind someone with just that.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,885
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
I dont usually post on this thread however my Granddaughter has been in intentsive care at the William Harvey hospital.On Tuesday I arrived at Ashford Station and then caught a bus to the hospital a journey which took thirty five minutes.It took me just under two hours to get from River to the hospital .
I have advised my fellow councillors of this .I will urge that a shuttle bus is used.Many elderly people have to give up driving or like me have never driven .and rely on public transport
I must say that when a person is seriously ill or a baby is intensive care a hospital with good Doctors ,Consultants and the Medical equipment that is required has to be located in a large hospital .
My late husband was in the Brook hospital and that was a long journey each day .The care he needed was not available Buckland however he was allowed back to Buckland where he spent his remaining days .
We hope Verity will be coming home today .Having received the most surperb care and treatment .The long journeys were well worth it .
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
The general public who do not have to attend hospital/clinics are unaware of the difficulties of obtaining health care provision in Dover and all our many villages.
The health care provision in Dover District has been below requirements for over twelve years and is reducing all the time.
We need to make them aware that if and when they need that care it may not be there.
We need therefore to ask them to join in the effort to obtain the health care provision we lack and need in our area.It really is getting quite desperate.
Our campaign group met to decide what else we could do and what action is needed.We have had a public meeting in Dover Town Hall and a rally where 2,000 people gathered and walked through part of the town.We have had a 32,574 signed petition delivered to 10 Downing Street.
All the talking has been done and dusted we now need a massive rally to embarrass the health authorities and DDC the delays have been totally unacceptable and we need our Hospital to be `Fast Tracked.
Dave 1 Your knowledge of the situation and obvious contacts/friends/relations would be very helpfull to encourage the public to demonstrate the feelings of people of Dover area.
Could you please let me know your email so our effort to organise a Rally/march we can call on your help to spread the word?
If any other people feel the same way about our neglected health service and want to make their Voice and Feet be heard please contact........reg.hansell tiscali@.co.uk
Sue - I am sorry your granddaughter has had to be in intensive care. My good wishes to you, her, and her parents. I wish her a speedy path to good health.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
glad to hear that the little girl is now recovering, clearly a very stressful time.
there used to be a shuttle bus service to the william harvey from the town but was stopped, strange as finding a parking space at the hospital is very difficult at the best of times.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Sue sorry to hear about your Grandaughter but it seems as if things are better now,Ahshord Hospital is always a problem with people who dont drive,we get many people wishing to go by train and bus,and it is a nightmare.The bus goes the long way round and takes ages.
If anyone has to go to QEQM at Margate the best easiest cheepest way is to get off at Ramsgate and use the Loop bus service.By the way the bus tivkets to William Harvey and QEQM can be bought from the Train Station and is cheaper than buying it on the bus.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Sue, sorry to hear that little Verity has been so poorly and pleased to hear she is now on the mend and returning home again, must have been a very worrying time for all the family.That journey to the William Harvey by public transport is horrendous, a shuttle bus from Ashford station to the hospital is long overdue, hope you have some success with that.
I am attending Buckland hospital at the moment for much needed physio on my long term back condition which the William Harvey arranged for me. The staff and the physiotherapists are so helpful. I am receiving great treatment there and so pleased I dont have to travel to Ashford or elsewhere. It will be a crying shame if Buckland closes with no other local facility in the pipeline on the horizon, so many people in Dover still depend on it for a variety of healthcare.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
I didn't know that DDC built hospitals and caused any problems - it's the 'do-gooders' that stopped the last plans - if they hadn't stuck their nose in there would already be a facility at Brook House....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
Just in case Dave 1 and others missed the need for people to spread the word that we need a Rally for our Hospital.
The general public who do not have to attend hospital/clinics are unaware of the difficulties of obtaining health care provision in Dover and all our many villages.
The health care provision in Dover District has been below requirements for over twelve years and is reducing all the time.
We need to make them aware that if and when they need that care it may not be there.
We need therefore to ask them to join in the effort to obtain the health care provision we lack and need in our area.It really is getting quite desperate.
Our campaign group met to decide what else we could do and what action is needed.We have had a public meeting in Dover Town Hall and a rally where 2,000 people gathered and walked through part of the town.We have had a 32,574 signed petition delivered to 10 Downing Street.
All the talking has been done and dusted we now need a massive rally to embarrass the health authorities and DDC the delays have been totally unacceptable and we need our Hospital to be `Fast Tracked.
Dave 1 Your knowledge of the situation and obvious contacts/friends/relations would be very helpfull to encourage the public to demonstrate the feelings of people of Dover area.
Could you please let me know your email so our effort to organise a Rally/march we can call on your help to spread the word?
If any other people feel the same way about our neglected health service and want to make their Voice and Feet be heard please contact........reg.hansell tiscali@.co.uk
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
have you developed a stutter reg, posts 7 and 13 are identical as far as i can see.
Given the current economic climate. In my opinion buckland will be shut in 9 months. If we are lucky a minor injuries or walh in centre similar to folkestone and whitstable may take its place. This is not what we need or indeed deserve but I truely believe this is what we will get. With the birthing centre closing and the reduction in minor injuries hours. The site has reached a critical mass as it where and closure is the. Next step.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
looks that way for buckland, used the folkestone one for blood tests and they are inundated there, most of the hospital is boarded up.
it is clear that our political game players are to blame that we do not have a hospital working or nearly working by now.
when public money is offered nomally people grab it and not ask questions, not here in dover though egos took precedence over pragmatism.
the powers that be know this and think of us all as a bunch of hill billies that cannot agree on anything.
my betting is that the hospital will never come to fruition for this reason.
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
I go back to my 15 year rule whereby outcomes are achieved as a new generation comes along with no knowledge of the previous situation and so accepts what is being proposed or what is in place. Eastbourne had a similar issue a couple of years ago when their hospital was threatened with cutbacks. The public protested, they 'won the day' then it all came back to revisit them recently. The powers that be will get their way. Its economics that drive the system not medical/educational/social (delete as applicable) need.
Buckland will be housing in 15 years time.
Sorry.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,885
I think the Health Centre will provide the very minimal service that the Health hierarchy can get away with.
A 4 hour round trip to Ashford by public transport for a 10 minute appointment is just not acceptable, the next time I am supposed to go there, unless the appointment is vital, I am going to refuse to go.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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It might be time to re-appraise the terms "health" and "care" given the hugely negative impact using on many of us when we use the services and the now acknowledged lack of "care" from many "nurses". Even the RCN is now having to agree that nurses can no longer be relied on to "care" or "nurse".
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