Thank you to those who welcomed me and reading the others, it is apparent that a great deal of misconception has taken place - due to those seeking to revitalise their ailing political careers and ... this is at least a hundred times worse, those who have used the situation to ensure that Dover does not get what the town is entitled to.
Focusing just latter and the PCT/EKHUFT. To explain, the PCT buy the health services from, amongst others, the EKHUFT (who provide hospital services. The PCT also provide their own hospital services, including Deal Community Hospital.
Up until 1 April the EKHUT, as it was then, relied on the PCT for its earnings but once it gained the F - Foundation - Status, it could borrow to expand on its own behalf.
The internal market of the NHS Hospital Trusts these days relies on the earnings from selling services. Without Foundation status the EKHT sold mainly to the local PCT and although it could sell elsewhere in the UK, because it was unable to expand its competitive services it was unable to get much earnings that way.
To get the Foundation status, the Trust had to be financially viable ... and that led to the running down of Buckland Hospital, to save on staff wages - or to quote one officer, "it was cheaper for the patients to pay for travelling to WHH than for us to pay staff to go the opposit direction."
As said, once the Foundation status had been achieved then the Hospital trust could borrow. My argument was that they should borrow - or use grants - to bring the Hospital services of Dover to the stardard advised in the various government's White Papers - there was/is a grant anyway.
The EKUFT Governors - many of who are appointed - wanted to put the greater good of the Hospital Trust first by borrowing/spending some £200m+ on improving services at WHH, K&C and QEQM. From the profits gained by selling services to other areas, the money accrued ... it was said (and believe me they are very good at saying things), would be used to build upon the £20m facility that they are ?planning to build near the present Health Centre.
A week ago, if I had stated the above in public I would have been liable, as I have resigned, I am not.
Lorraine
