CARES press release: Feb. 2009
Urgent review of NHS procedure needed at Southport Hospital subsequent to tragedy of a 44 year old man left own his own with chest pains for two hours.
The article in last Friday’s Visiter (6th Feb. 09), regarding the gentleman who died, whilst awaiting treatment in Southport A&E, was extremely distressing. This tragedy comes at a time when self-righteous hospital bureaucrats are assuring residents that staff shortages are not problematic, hospital parking charges are essential and their closure of vital wards is ‘for our own good.’
After internal investigation Mr Jonathon Parry, Chief Executive, said he hoped to draw a line under this particular incident. This we find wholly unacceptable!
The NHS claims that they were not medically at fault and allegedly they could not have saved the patient. We however call for a second autonomous opinion into this matter. Our heart-felt thoughts at this time are with the grieving family. CARES object to the fact that this man went into casualty with chest pains and was subsequently left alone for two hours without being properly assessed to receive medical assistance. One does not expect to wait two to four hours anywhere and certainly not for medical support.
Claims that staff were allegedly attending to more urgent cases are not sufficient. This man has unfortunately slipped through the NHS net on a normal working day. What will happen if a major emergency hits our town when this system cannot seem to even manage individual cases like this?
CARES call for a full independent and unbiased investigation into procedures and waiting times at our hospital.
Free and essential NHS care at the point of delivery appears not to be happening. This is not satisfactory and Southport patients deserve better!
CARES also call for free parking facilities at the ‘Point of delivery’. Patients should not be subject to this current NHS tax on ill-health
Cath Regan and Margaret Brown
CARES co-chairs