Who Really Cares?

[John]

According to reports in our local press, only 0.2% (yes, that is point two percent) of the adult population of East Lancashire have bothered to respond to an invitation to comment on the destruction of our medical care facilities including the loss of full A&E. for Burnley. Of these 30% refused to back either the “A” or “B” options.

http://www.burnleyrightnow.co.uk/con...id=29&Itemid=2

[Neal]

The A&E Department is not closing.

All emergencies (999) are going to be taken to Blackburn if possible. There will still be the walk in facilities at Burnley. It will be better for the following reasons:

Blackburn will have more modern equipment to deal with emergencies.
Burnley will be updated and improved to deal with walk in injuries and you will be seen quicker. At the moment, you wait longer as they deal with emergencies coming in which you can't see as the Ambulances go around the back. A lot of improvements are being made as I type and new buildings and departments are being built at BGH. Just look at the new Phase 5 development, it's amazing, clean and modern.

In all, each hospital is being improved and developed to cater for it's needs. This will be better.

[Digsyboy]

couldn't comment on what is happening at burnley general
but i can't believe they are closing any bits down, unless it is necessary

[grannyclaret]

The A & E is the main concern.....its a long way to Blackburn if your dying

[Mercury]

I agree, GrannyC, even though it doesnt affect me (I live in York) it seems a bit bizarre that a town wont have it's own A & E department. The walk in facilities are ok, but they will be for fractures, cuts & bruises, probably the 'basic' accidents that happen day to day. I would hate to be living in Burnley with my family and for something to happen to one of them, wait for an ambulance and make the journey to Blackburn, all that time it takes to get there, sometimes I wonder what is going on with all the changes. Some of them I dont think are for the best neither..

[jellytot]

To me moving the emergency department seems stupid! The extra time it takes to get too blackburn rather than to Burnley will certainly cost people there lifes! Why make this un-necessary waste!?! it completely confuses me! I just hope that none of my frineds and family end up in a real emergency and have to travel all the way to BLackburn!

[garabaldi]

there seems to me to be two separate issues - "do people care anymore about anything"? and "why is the hospital making changes that don't seem to suit the population"?

the first one is more complex than the second I think. Probably more a case of disillusionment rather than not caring - people have become more disillusioned about authority in general. Politicians and their behaviours now displayed in gory detail in the tabloids cannot be trusted. so people stop making an effort in things that should concern them. Secondly it has always been difficult to get the British to 'get involved' in some things, and local councils and pollies seem to be high on the list. Take the general elections - always a poor turn out.

But the changes to the hospital, as I see it having worked in the health care system most of my life is about economics. The health services have always been a very expensive service to run, more so now with modern technology being more costly.

The truth of the matter is that every small town and village in England would like their own services. Financially impossible. So economic rationale kicks in. If you have studied the changes in the NHS recently, you will realise that this rationale is being used right across all services. For what ever reason or reasons, the govt cannot afford to continue providing the NHS services it has attempted to for the past 50 years. The population is getting older and demanding more long term services.

they could in fact provided the best services to everyone but the tax demands at the next election would ensure that they lost the election. When you use a health service were the costs are often hidden, ie you don't know on a day to day basis what it is or should be costing you personally to use it then you tend to say "I must have the best regardless" instead of "Oh dear it is expensive, no I cannot afford that"

All these changes then I believe are about money and what you and I and the rest of the country can afford. And by the way the process is not just happening in Britain, it's the same all over the world. We are all demanding better services on the door step and they are very expensive

[wayneyboy1942]

I'm not effected John, but I find it strange that so few people are botherd by the threat to the A+E at Burnley Gen! I hope for everyone in Burnley and the local area that they change their mind!

[dellym]

Originally Posted by Neal

The A&E Department is not closing.

All emergencies (999) are going to be taken to Blackburn if possible. There will still be the walk in facilities at Burnley. It will be better for the following reasons:

Blackburn will have more modern equipment to deal with emergencies.
Burnley will be updated and improved to deal with walk in injuries and you will be seen quicker. At the moment, you wait longer as they deal with emergencies coming in which you can't see as the Ambulances go around the back. A lot of improvements are being made as I type and new buildings and departments are being built at BGH. Just look at the new Phase 5 development, it's amazing, clean and modern.

In all, each hospital is being improved and developed to cater for it's needs. This will be better.

In theory it may seem better..in practice its gonna be dicing with our lives.
Having had 2 people very close to me have to be rushed to hospital I can say with certainty that they would not have stood a chance if they'd gone to Blackburn.
You are a parent Neal..if something happened to your daughter god forbid...how would you feel in a life threatening situation if you were halfway down the motorway in the ambulance and there were tailbacks or a crash etc? The crucial treatment time for emergencies is within 30 minutes ... I cant see that being a realistic option..can you?
I am absolutely disgusted by what is inevitably going to happen...Ive changed how I vote and will NEVER vote Labour again for as long as I live.