Return A&E to Burnley

[Neal]

The fact is, it's time the Government spoke to people who work on the bottom level in the NHS having to put up with this *****. It's no good speaking to a boss who wants to look good as they will say all is well.

A lot of Ambulance personnel after visiting BGH after an emergency used to stay there for a while waiting for their next call and take their breaks. This was good as they were the response for Burnley, Pendle, etc. Now though, they do this at Blackburn meaning they have to travel further when a job comes in for Burnley, Pendle, etc. Ambulance personnel i've heard complain about lack of breaks and working over finish times.

It's not working, and it's dangerous.

[Neal]

Downing Street ignores A&E web petition

A FORMER Burnley General Hospital contractor has blasted a Government reaction to his petition to bring blue light services back to the town.

The petition, which stated: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to return A&E and life-saving treatment to Burnley General Hospital", was posted on the Prime Minister's official website, number10.gov.uk, and signed by 315 people.

It was started by Burnley's Mr Neal Parry (30), who said he believed the new system at the hospital, which now has an urgent care centre for minor accidents and illnesses rather than a full A&E, was "a total shambles".

But the response from the Prime Minister's website states the Government is not going to look into the request, and ministers "do not feel there are grounds for the Department of Health to review emergency services at the Trust".

Mr Parry, who used to work for Vita Lend Lease, which services the Phase V building, as well as provides security personnel for the hospital, said: "For the short time the petition was on the website, the response was fantastic.

"But the trouble is the Government speaks to the bosses and not the people who are working within the health service. If they did they would know how bad it is. It is completely wrong and a total shambles."

The Government's response says: "The decision to approve the reconfiguration of services across East Lancashire was made by Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT (which merged to form East Lancashire PCT in October 2006) and Blackburn with Darwen Teaching PCT, following a period of public consultation.

"The integrated clinical services across the two main hospital sites will provide comprehensive and sustainable services for the people of East Lancashire both now and in the future.

"Ministers have asked NHS North West to continue monitoring the implementation of the service reconfiguration in East Lancashire. However, given the assurances that Ministers have received, they do not feel that there are grounds for the Department of Health to review emergency services at the Trust."

Downing Street ignores A&E web petition - Burnley Express

[WillowTheWhisp]

It's bad enough for me here in Accrington having to go to Blackburn for everything these days but it seems absolutely ludicrous to me to have something as urgent as an A&E located miles away. Surely speed of getting to the hospital is vital in case of an accident. It just so annoys me that Downing Street totally ignores what people have to say who are personaly involved and on the sharp end of all these 'improvements'.

[tyler4402]

Hi

A couple of years ago I wrote in the local paper stating that if we as a community did not wake up and act quickly we would see our local BGH reduced to a super maternity hospital with a loss of the most important services.
As I have an interest in saving the services at BGH in March 06 I wrote to the then Health secretary Patricia Hewitt with my concerns, she declined to answer personally as all Labour MP’s do, and passed the buck to Mr Steve Forman of the Ministerial Briefing Unit (North) who told me that the said ministers only task was only one of securing funding for the NHS.
To quote John Kelly (Customer Service Centre) Department of Health, (from a letter sent to me) "Decisions about the local NHS services are made at local level”
My letter was then passed on to the Chief Executive of the Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority, which is responsible for services (or the decimation of them) in our area.
The Chief Executive is a
Mr Chris Dent
Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority
Preston Business Centre
Watling Street Road
Fulwood
Preston PR2 8DY
And therefore it must be Chris Dent and his department who are responsible for the decimation of BGH.
It was to late for the railways once Beaching was appointed, I fear that time is not on our side.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Looking back now you can see what a mistake the rationalisation of the railways was. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but people will never learn from past mistakes. They seem hell bent on making their own.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Looking back now you can see what a mistake the rationalisation of the railways was. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but people will never learn from past mistakes. They seem hell bent on making their own.

Totally agree with you Willow, its a fact that in todays LT there is an article regarding ambulances having to queue at the Royal Blackburn to get their patients in, well what did they expect when your bringing patients from all over East Lancashire your bound to get a snarl up from time to time, and this is supposed to improve patient care, what a load of (for want of a better word on a family forum) codswallop