A step nearer to regaining our lost health services?
CARES: OCTOBER 2007 UPDATE
Remember August 2003? Southport's anger spilled over as an estimated 4,000 protesters marched against ludicrous hospital cuts
Road works chaos appears to finally be telling the health authorities that their ludicrous transfer of our services to Ormskirk is ‘not’ feasible and not working!
Campaigners have recently received the following information from PCT chief executive, Leigh Griffin
Concerning road works (projected to run to late December) on the route to Ormskirk Hospital: The PCT claims it had not been made aware of the road closure, and that they are now securing updates from various parties.
Left to right: Margaret Brown (CARES) Leigh Griffin (PCT) Cath Regan (CARES)
Through liaison with the local Hospital Trust and the North West Ambulance Services NHS Trust, both Sefton and Central Lancashire PCTs claim they are “keen" to ascertain the impact on patient experiences and access. In particular, liaison with the Ambulance service will highlight whether there is any “significant impact” on the response times to emergency situations, and seek to minimise such.
Leigh Griffin informs us that these road works have acted as a further prompt to local concerns with regard to the availability of children’s services in North Sefton.
He tells us that whilst the current configuration of specialist hospital services reflects considerations of clinical safety and appropriateness, the PCT has acknowledged its wish to review the nature and configuration of 'out of hospital' care for children.
Ainsdale's Cllr Brenda Porter displaying petitions collected with campaigners. Four years on and Cllr Porter is still working hard to help ensure the return of our lost services with the CARES team
The PCT say they have previously signalled that any proposed changes to the current arrangements would be considered as part of its commissioning plans for 2008/09.
In recognition of continuing local concerns from a wide range of parties, over the nature and level of current health services for children in North Sefton, Leigh Griffin proposes that the PCT convenes a meeting with all interested parties, including the Hospitals Trust, the Ambulance Trust, local GPs, Politicians across Party divides and local patient representatives to ascertain whether there is broad understanding and agreement to any potential changes in service.
Thursday 19th February 2004. The day that Southport's long-battling CARES campaigners delivered nearly 20,000 signatures on petitions to Number 10
Mr Griffin says that such a discussion is to be scheduled ‘before’ Christmas.
It would, he tells us, need to take into account the implications of any changes, whether related to considerations of finance, clinical safety or the sustainability of specialist services. The outcome of discussions could then inform the PCT's plans for 2008/09 and beyond.
PCT/NHS health officials holding petitions delivered after the huge protest march of 2003
CARES say:
We have been constantly pressing the NHS/PCT and chasing fleeting promises from the health authorities since they removed our vital services. It is high time that they now came up with the goods for the children and parents of our town.