South London Healthcare Trust administrator Matthew Kershaw recommends trust dissolution and Lewisham Hospital A&E closure
11:31am Monday 29th October 2012 in News By Mark Chandler
DISSOLUTION of the South London Healthcare NHS Trust and the closure of Lewisham Hospital A&E are two of six recommendations published in a draft report this morning.
Matthew Kershaw was appointed to run the debt-ridden trust after it was plunged into administration in July having ended 2011 with a deficit of £69m.
And today he has recommended the trust is dissolved and other organisations should take over the management and delivery of the NHS services it provides.
He also recommends the Department of Health provides additional funds to the local NHS to cover the excess costs of the private finance initiative buildings at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, and the Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough.
A public consultation exercise is now set to take place, starting on Friday (November 2).
The full report is available for download here.
Mr Kershaw recommended:
- Improving "operational efficiency" of trust sites, including cutting the workforce.
- Developing Queen Mary's Hospital into a Bexley Health Campus, providing day case elective surgery, endoscopy and radiotherapy. It would be owned by Oxleas NHS Trust. Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust would provide case elective surgery on an interim basis.
- Selling off "vacant and poorly utilised premises" around the Queen Mary's site and Bromley estate.
- A £20m to £25m annual payment from the Department for Health to cover the costly PFI costs which funded Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Pru.
- Closing Lewisham Hospital A&E department with emergency care for south east London provided by King's College Hospital, St Thomas's, Queen Elizabeth and the Pru.
- Either shutting Lewisham Hospital's maternity unit or making it a standalone obstetric-led delivery facility.
- Making Lewisham Hospital an elective centre for non-complex inpatient procedures like hip and knee replacements.
- The sale of Orpington Hospital and Beckenham Beacon.
- Write-off of trust PFI debts - said to make up one-third of the overall deficit.
Organisational changes
As part of Mr Kershaw's recommendations the trust would be broken up with other organisations taking over its services.
- Queen Elizabeth and Lewisham would merge to create a new organisation.
- The Pru could be acquired by King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. An alternative would see a procurement process allowing any NHS or private sector provider to bid for its services.
Comments(43)
Margaret Smith
says...
2:14pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Slonik
says...
3:07pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Massive amounts of money have and will conitinue to be wasted as a result of a PFI fest embarked upon by the last "government" in typical spend now, pay later style. The key, of course, was to keep the spending off the books so it didn't appear as Govt. debt and Brown could continue to tell us all how prudent he was lol. Well, those of us who didn't already know it, are finding out that their votes were 'bought' and this huge mess is the price of their naivety.
tumblesocs
says...
4:13pm Mon 29 Oct 12
goldenbroomboy
says...
4:21pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Womblingbarnacle
says...
4:29pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Labour forced PFI on hospitals, which left them with a 30 year high interest mortgages which they couldn't afford. PFI is where a private company builds and maintains for 30 years a hospital and the trust pays them at a very high cost for repayments transferring money from patient care. This was supported by the tories, and now the lib dems in power.
Allowing a 30% plus population increase in 10 years through immigration and higher birth rates (though maternity units now closing!) has also added much pressure which cannot be afforded and wasn't contemplated by politicians and statisticians. Well done Labour.
mouthalmighty
says...
4:32pm Mon 29 Oct 12
shergars ghost
says...
4:44pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Marvellous that the NHS can find £30M in promoting the Liverpool Care Pathway, yet cannot maintain essential services for the local community - how disgusting...!!!
Jmac49
says...
5:47pm Mon 29 Oct 12
tumblesocs wrote:The PFI idea was a Conservative idea created under the Major government!
How stupid and dangerous is closing A&E at lewisham hospital,they are building thousands of new homes around the area,so with thousands more people they think its a great idea to close an emergency dept,and let everyone travel miles to the next one. blood on your hands i think .
Notpolitical
says...
6:49pm Mon 29 Oct 12
This is about people!
Why should Lewisham lose its A&E dept they have nothing to do with the shameful debacle known as south London healthcare, in fact Lewisham decided to withdraw from the group at its inception.
They spent millions on the A&E dept just a few months ago and it is a testament to Lewisham, as is the children's A&E dept and maternity services.
Shame,shame,shame on Mr Kershaw for thinking its ok to deprive Lewisham residents of its A&E to balance the books in the more affluent Bromley borough!
I hope all of you will support your hospital when the consultation process begins,
Start writing to your MP now to tell them what a disgrace this is
Marty1979
says...
7:00pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Notpolitical wrote:I think you've made the best point - some people seem to be making their own "party political" statements, the Tory voters are saying it's the fault of the Labour government - yet the Tories are just as bad
Why does everybody get political? The cons did nothing whilst in opposition same as labour.
This is about people!
Why should Lewisham lose its A&E dept they have nothing to do with the shameful debacle known as south London healthcare, in fact Lewisham decided to withdraw from the group at its inception.
They spent millions on the A&E dept just a few months ago and it is a testament to Lewisham, as is the children's A&E dept and maternity services.
Shame,shame,shame on Mr Kershaw for thinking its ok to deprive Lewisham residents of its A&E to balance the books in the more affluent Bromley borough!
I hope all of you will support your hospital when the consultation process begins,
Start writing to your MP now to tell them what a disgrace this is
Remember the election promise "the NHS is safe in our hands, no hospital closures etc"
And if the Lib Dems were in power it would be no different
They're all as bad as each other
Donna_T
says...
7:53pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Jmac49
says...
7:54pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Marty1979 wrote:Its would be so easy to say its not about politics, but its is! Conservatives are the governing party and they going to make these changes whether we like it or not!
Notpolitical wrote:I think you've made the best point - some people seem to be making their own "party political" statements, the Tory voters are saying it's the fault of the Labour government - yet the Tories are just as bad
Why does everybody get political? The cons did nothing whilst in opposition same as labour.
This is about people!
Why should Lewisham lose its A&E dept they have nothing to do with the shameful debacle known as south London healthcare, in fact Lewisham decided to withdraw from the group at its inception.
They spent millions on the A&E dept just a few months ago and it is a testament to Lewisham, as is the children's A&E dept and maternity services.
Shame,shame,shame on Mr Kershaw for thinking its ok to deprive Lewisham residents of its A&E to balance the books in the more affluent Bromley borough!
I hope all of you will support your hospital when the consultation process begins,
Start writing to your MP now to tell them what a disgrace this is
Remember the election promise "the NHS is safe in our hands, no hospital closures etc"
And if the Lib Dems were in power it would be no different
They're all as bad as each other
reasonable75
says...
8:07pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Margaret Smith wrote:As had been pointed out, PFI was a policy from John Major's (conservative) government - although the Labour government did nothing to change it
This is all due to the last Labour Government that instead of Borrowing cheap money to fund Schools and Hospitals, Launched the biggest policy open to abuse in modern times the PFI policy that allowed big business to borrow cheap money to build schools and Hospitals with a clause that the Government would pay the rent and service charges up to 50 years, Leading to Closure of this Trust and other Hospitals and schools across the UK, expecting the same.AS PFI, rips of the Tax payer and puts us all further in debt to service the profits of these big business Concerns who were in bed big time with the last Labour Government. Thank God in Lewisham we have People before Profit to vote for. Who would never allow Business interests and profit to be put before the interests of local people.
Downhamlad
says...
8:11pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Donna_T wrote:Yeah Marty like Donna sez Id like to see you do better
Marty1979 who would you suggest then ?
Come on then whats your great idea
Womblingbarnacle
says...
10:37pm Mon 29 Oct 12
Jmac49 wrote:The Tories started it in the 90s, but Labour embraced it and expanded it hugely after '97. Queen Elizabeth hospital PFI was instigated in the late 90s TWO YEARS after labour were elected. Gordon Brown was a big advocate of it across all of govt. How anyone can be partisan about it is beyond me. The most cursory knowledge and reading shows all three main political parties are culpable.
Womblingbarnacle wrote:The PFI idea was a Conservative one under the Major government!
All political parties are at fault for this.
Labour forced PFI on hospitals, which left them with a 30 year high interest mortgages which they couldn't afford. PFI is where a private company builds and maintains for 30 years a hospital and the trust pays them at a very high cost for repayments transferring money from patient care. This was supported by the tories, and now the lib dems in power.
Allowing a 30% plus population increase in 10 years through immigration and higher birth rates (though maternity units now closing!) has also added much pressure which cannot be afforded and wasn't contemplated by politicians and statisticians. Well done Labour.
As for those saying this isn't political, of course it is. Just who do you think made the rules and forced it through causing this bankruptcy?
Notpolitical
says...
12:43am Tue 30 Oct 12
Jmac49 wrote:The point I was making is that the old blue and red brigade all jump in and blame each other when they are all guilty!
Marty1979 wrote:Its would be so easy to say its not about politics, but its is! Conservatives are the governing party and they going to make these changes whether we like it or not!
Notpolitical wrote:I think you've made the best point - some people seem to be making their own "party political" statements, the Tory voters are saying it's the fault of the Labour government - yet the Tories are just as bad
Why does everybody get political? The cons did nothing whilst in opposition same as labour.
This is about people!
Why should Lewisham lose its A&E dept they have nothing to do with the shameful debacle known as south London healthcare, in fact Lewisham decided to withdraw from the group at its inception.
They spent millions on the A&E dept just a few months ago and it is a testament to Lewisham, as is the children's A&E dept and maternity services.
Shame,shame,shame on Mr Kershaw for thinking its ok to deprive Lewisham residents of its A&E to balance the books in the more affluent Bromley borough!
I hope all of you will support your hospital when the consultation process begins,
Start writing to your MP now to tell them what a disgrace this is
Remember the election promise "the NHS is safe in our hands, no hospital closures etc"
And if the Lib Dems were in power it would be no different
They're all as bad as each other
The second point was why should Lewisham be penalised for not getting involved in SLHT, what right does Mr Kershaw have to involve Lewisham in his rescue plan of SLHT?
jelly00001
says...
7:14am Tue 30 Oct 12
Secondly whilst PFI was a Tory baby, I didn't see Labour reversing the trend in its administration in fact it actively encouraged them and was was them that legislated the unsustainable providers regimen!
I suggest you all read the full report for yourselves rather than relying on misleading reports by both local and national press. Whilst I'm not sure about parts of the reports there is a lot of good strong recommendations for future services.
jelly00001
says...
7:19am Tue 30 Oct 12
goldenbroomboy wrote:Having just been seen in outpatients at Beckenham Beacon, all I can say what a waste of money keeping it open! There were only 2 people ahead of me and still they were running 30 minutes late! Whilst waiting I had to endure the the HCA standing gossiping to someone else, I didn't see her move once!!
Both Beckenham, and Orpington will be sold. And the Tories claimed the NHS is safe in their hands.
goldenbroomboy
says...
8:34am Tue 30 Oct 12
jelly00001 wrote:That is a matter for hospital administration, not Matthew Kershaw. Perhaps the people in front of you needed longer than five minuites with the doctor-it has been known to happen in GP surgeries as well. But don't worry, the hospital will be closed soon & the HCA will be signing on the dole whilst you are stuck on a train or in a traffic jam trying to get to Denmark Hill.
goldenbroomboy wrote: Both Beckenham, and Orpington will be sold. And the Tories claimed the NHS is safe in their hands.Having just been seen in outpatients at Beckenham Beacon, all I can say what a waste of money keeping it open! There were only 2 people ahead of me and still they were running 30 minutes late! Whilst waiting I had to endure the the HCA standing gossiping to someone else, I didn't see her move once!!
Jmac49
says...
9:14am Tue 30 Oct 12
goldenbroomboy wrote:Oh and you won't be able to park at King's, so don't wish away Beckenham too quickly, it provides an excellent local service.
jelly00001 wrote:That is a matter for hospital administration, not Matthew Kershaw. Perhaps the people in front of you needed longer than five minuites with the doctor-it has been known to happen in GP surgeries as well. But don't worry, the hospital will be closed soon & the HCA will be signing on the dole whilst you are stuck on a train or in a traffic jam trying to get to Denmark Hill.
goldenbroomboy wrote: Both Beckenham, and Orpington will be sold. And the Tories claimed the NHS is safe in their hands.Having just been seen in outpatients at Beckenham Beacon, all I can say what a waste of money keeping it open! There were only 2 people ahead of me and still they were running 30 minutes late! Whilst waiting I had to endure the the HCA standing gossiping to someone else, I didn't see her move once!!
jelly00001
says...
9:47am Tue 30 Oct 12
Jmac49 wrote:Why would I be going to Kings, if you had bothered to read the report, the plan is that follow up care will be managed locally so as I live nowhere near Kings I doubt that that would happen!
goldenbroomboy wrote:Oh and you won't be able to park at King's, so don't wish away Beckenham too quickly, it provides an excellent local service.
jelly00001 wrote:That is a matter for hospital administration, not Matthew Kershaw. Perhaps the people in front of you needed longer than five minuites with the doctor-it has been known to happen in GP surgeries as well. But don't worry, the hospital will be closed soon & the HCA will be signing on the dole whilst you are stuck on a train or in a traffic jam trying to get to Denmark Hill.
goldenbroomboy wrote: Both Beckenham, and Orpington will be sold. And the Tories claimed the NHS is safe in their hands.Having just been seen in outpatients at Beckenham Beacon, all I can say what a waste of money keeping it open! There were only 2 people ahead of me and still they were running 30 minutes late! Whilst waiting I had to endure the the HCA standing gossiping to someone else, I didn't see her move once!!
The Lewisham board submitted a bid to the special administrator knowing full well that they may lose their A&E if their bid was accepted. They also took part in an exercise earlier this year looking at the future of services across South London and at that point it was identified that their A&E may close!
goldenbroomboy
says...
9:59am Tue 30 Oct 12
jelly00001 wrote:And suppose there is no room "locally"? Presumably you are one of those types who thinks that "local" to Lewisham is anywhere east of Heathrow & west of Sevenoaks?
Jmac49 wrote:Why would I be going to Kings, if you had bothered to read the report, the plan is that follow up care will be managed locally so as I live nowhere near Kings I doubt that that would happen! The Lewisham board submitted a bid to the special administrator knowing full well that they may lose their A&E if their bid was accepted. They also took part in an exercise earlier this year looking at the future of services across South London and at that point it was identified that their A&E may close!goldenbroomboy wrote:Oh and you won't be able to park at King's, so don't wish away Beckenham too quickly, it provides an excellent local service.jelly00001 wrote:That is a matter for hospital administration, not Matthew Kershaw. Perhaps the people in front of you needed longer than five minuites with the doctor-it has been known to happen in GP surgeries as well. But don't worry, the hospital will be closed soon & the HCA will be signing on the dole whilst you are stuck on a train or in a traffic jam trying to get to Denmark Hill.goldenbroomboy wrote: Both Beckenham, and Orpington will be sold. And the Tories claimed the NHS is safe in their hands.Having just been seen in outpatients at Beckenham Beacon, all I can say what a waste of money keeping it open! There were only 2 people ahead of me and still they were running 30 minutes late! Whilst waiting I had to endure the the HCA standing gossiping to someone else, I didn't see her move once!!
Quite frankly I am not concerned with the Lewisham board, unlike you I am concerned with Lewisham patients. Patients who need services are not usually bothered about boardroom discussions & point scoring.
jelly00001
says...
10:42am Tue 30 Oct 12
goldenbroomboy wrote:No I'm not actually, I just happen to realise that the NHS is not a bottomless pit when it comes to funding. I'm not in favour of the private sector running the NHS either. If we all want and should have the right to a decent standard of healthcare in South London, I accept that things need to change.
jelly00001 wrote:And suppose there is no room "locally"? Presumably you are one of those types who thinks that "local" to Lewisham is anywhere east of Heathrow & west of Sevenoaks?
Jmac49 wrote:Why would I be going to Kings, if you had bothered to read the report, the plan is that follow up care will be managed locally so as I live nowhere near Kings I doubt that that would happen! The Lewisham board submitted a bid to the special administrator knowing full well that they may lose their A&E if their bid was accepted. They also took part in an exercise earlier this year looking at the future of services across South London and at that point it was identified that their A&E may close!goldenbroomboy wrote:Oh and you won't be able to park at King's, so don't wish away Beckenham too quickly, it provides an excellent local service.jelly00001 wrote:That is a matter for hospital administration, not Matthew Kershaw. Perhaps the people in front of you needed longer than five minuites with the doctor-it has been known to happen in GP surgeries as well. But don't worry, the hospital will be closed soon & the HCA will be signing on the dole whilst you are stuck on a train or in a traffic jam trying to get to Denmark Hill.goldenbroomboy wrote: Both Beckenham, and Orpington will be sold. And the Tories claimed the NHS is safe in their hands.Having just been seen in outpatients at Beckenham Beacon, all I can say what a waste of money keeping it open! There were only 2 people ahead of me and still they were running 30 minutes late! Whilst waiting I had to endure the the HCA standing gossiping to someone else, I didn't see her move once!!
Quite frankly I am not concerned with the Lewisham board, unlike you I am concerned with Lewisham patients. Patients who need services are not usually bothered about boardroom discussions & point scoring.
Personally I think emergency care centres are the way forward waiting times are significantly reduced for those who don't require admission and A&E doesn't get clogged up with people with ailments such as twisted ankles!
Jmac49
says...
11:28am Tue 30 Oct 12
jelly00001 wrote:Exactly so why are they proposing to closing the Beckenham Urgent Care Centre?
goldenbroomboy wrote:No I'm not actually, I just happen to realise that the NHS is not a bottomless pit when it comes to funding. I'm not in favour of the private sector running the NHS either. If we all want and should have the right to a decent standard of healthcare in South London, I accept that things need to change.
jelly00001 wrote:And suppose there is no room "locally"? Presumably you are one of those types who thinks that "local" to Lewisham is anywhere east of Heathrow & west of Sevenoaks?
Jmac49 wrote:Why would I be going to Kings, if you had bothered to read the report, the plan is that follow up care will be managed locally so as I live nowhere near Kings I doubt that that would happen! The Lewisham board submitted a bid to the special administrator knowing full well that they may lose their A&E if their bid was accepted. They also took part in an exercise earlier this year looking at the future of services across South London and at that point it was identified that their A&E may close!goldenbroomboy wrote:Oh and you won't be able to park at King's, so don't wish away Beckenham too quickly, it provides an excellent local service.jelly00001 wrote:That is a matter for hospital administration, not Matthew Kershaw. Perhaps the people in front of you needed longer than five minuites with the doctor-it has been known to happen in GP surgeries as well. But don't worry, the hospital will be closed soon & the HCA will be signing on the dole whilst you are stuck on a train or in a traffic jam trying to get to Denmark Hill.goldenbroomboy wrote: Both Beckenham, and Orpington will be sold. And the Tories claimed the NHS is safe in their hands.Having just been seen in outpatients at Beckenham Beacon, all I can say what a waste of money keeping it open! There were only 2 people ahead of me and still they were running 30 minutes late! Whilst waiting I had to endure the the HCA standing gossiping to someone else, I didn't see her move once!!
Quite frankly I am not concerned with the Lewisham board, unlike you I am concerned with Lewisham patients. Patients who need services are not usually bothered about boardroom discussions & point scoring.
Personally I think emergency care centres are the way forward waiting times are significantly reduced for those who don't require admission and A&E doesn't get clogged up with people with ailments such as twisted ankles!
jelly00001
says...
12:07pm Tue 30 Oct 12
Jmac49
says...
12:32pm Tue 30 Oct 12
jelly00001 wrote:Well I work there and if you forget the 80 patients that are x-rayed at Beckenham everyday and the hundreds of blood tests that are taken everyday, yeah nothing goes on at Beckenham!
Probably because the majority of the hospital is empty and still cost millions to run. When I was there 4 people were waiting for phlebotomy and 3 at the clinic I went to and UCC was empty. surely you can see that it doesn't make any sense to fully staff Beckenham Beacon for a handful of patients. It hasn't been said yet whether what was the PCT will take over the UCC. But whatever people think in sure these proposals will happen!
Jmac49
says...
12:33pm Tue 30 Oct 12
mouthalmighty
says...
5:30pm Tue 30 Oct 12
y by those who have to visit daily, weekly of other frequent times. The loss of local A & E is also traumatic. I drive do it expensive but easier to get to alternative sites. But what about those who can't drive or choose not to. How do they get to A&E? The ambulance service us going to be inundated. Oh no. Sorry. They are being cut too.
Oldchap
says...
8:16pm Tue 30 Oct 12
Currently she is able to go to Orpington, then on to work. If Orpington closes she may be able to go to the PRU, but I imagine the delays will be even longer due to increases numbers
If she had to go to Kings (bear in mind it is unlikely they would do tests before 7am) it would mean taking time off work. Plus greatly increase travel costs
There will be many people in the Beckenham area with similar problems
Marty1979
says...
8:27pm Tue 30 Oct 12
jelly00001 wrote:Why would you be going to Kings? Well perhaps you will be lucky enough never to be ill - but most heart surgery in this area is now done at Kings
Jmac49 wrote:Why would I be going to Kings, if you had bothered to read the report, the plan is that follow up care will be managed locally so as I live nowhere near Kings I doubt that that would happen!
goldenbroomboy wrote:Oh and you won't be able to park at King's, so don't wish away Beckenham too quickly, it provides an excellent local service.
jelly00001 wrote:That is a matter for hospital administration, not Matthew Kershaw. Perhaps the people in front of you needed longer than five minuites with the doctor-it has been known to happen in GP surgeries as well. But don't worry, the hospital will be closed soon & the HCA will be signing on the dole whilst you are stuck on a train or in a traffic jam trying to get to Denmark Hill.
goldenbroomboy wrote: Both Beckenham, and Orpington will be sold. And the Tories claimed the NHS is safe in their hands.Having just been seen in outpatients at Beckenham Beacon, all I can say what a waste of money keeping it open! There were only 2 people ahead of me and still they were running 30 minutes late! Whilst waiting I had to endure the the HCA standing gossiping to someone else, I didn't see her move once!!
The Lewisham board submitted a bid to the special administrator knowing full well that they may lose their A&E if their bid was accepted. They also took part in an exercise earlier this year looking at the future of services across South London and at that point it was identified that their A&E may close!
You would need to visit a specialist, then attend for the operation, then outpatients for follow up. Not so many years ago this would have been done at Bromley or Lewisham
It is the major trauma centre so if you are unfortunate enough to have an accident you would be taken to Kings and if kept in hospital your friends & family would need to travel there to visit
Slonik
says...
9:51am Wed 31 Oct 12
reasonable75 wrote:As I've said, the concept was a Tory one but, not only did Labour do nothing about it, they actually put in place almost all the PFI schemes which exist today.
Margaret Smith wrote:As had been pointed out, PFI was a policy from John Major's (conservative) government - although the Labour government did nothing to change it
This is all due to the last Labour Government that instead of Borrowing cheap money to fund Schools and Hospitals, Launched the biggest policy open to abuse in modern times the PFI policy that allowed big business to borrow cheap money to build schools and Hospitals with a clause that the Government would pay the rent and service charges up to 50 years, Leading to Closure of this Trust and other Hospitals and schools across the UK, expecting the same.AS PFI, rips of the Tax payer and puts us all further in debt to service the profits of these big business Concerns who were in bed big time with the last Labour Government. Thank God in Lewisham we have People before Profit to vote for. Who would never allow Business interests and profit to be put before the interests of local people.
There is no doubt that PFI isn't the only thing wrong with the NHS but it is a massive drain on much needed resources and should never have been deemed an acceptable means by which to build schools, hospitals etc. It was a political con trick to keep capital spending and govt. debt off the books and this is the result!
jelly00001
says...
9:52am Wed 31 Oct 12
A close friend is on warfarin, she does home testing, phones through her results, the nurse practitioner advises her on her dosage and she attends clinic on a 3 monthly basis. As more things are becoming community bases maybe things like this will become more common. Lets face it who wants to hang round clinics for ages particularly phebotomy were its a first come, first served basis!
Jmac49
says...
9:57am Wed 31 Oct 12
Jmac49
says...
9:59am Wed 31 Oct 12
Jackytalks
says...
10:35am Thu 1 Nov 12
Threadworm
says...
12:18pm Thu 1 Nov 12
18 million i think was spent recently renovating Lewisham A.E how can they possibly close it when Q.E can not cope with the amount of people coming in.......... a clear cut investigation is needed relating to past worms that have SO FAR got away with so much resulting in the downfall of this trust..
Virtual-Monster
says...
3:02pm Thu 1 Nov 12
We supposedly live in one of the most developed countries in the world yet our health care system is being measured and controlled simply by cost! There is something VERY wrong with that!
One may even think that this is a Tory plan to thin out the population in lower income areas.
goldenbroomboy
says...
10:26am Fri 2 Nov 12
Virtual-Monster wrote:Shirley Porter tried that in Westminster in the eighties, anybody remember the "asbestos homes"?
Providing comprehensive, effective health care should not be constrained by cost. We supposedly live in one of the most developed countries in the world yet our health care system is being measured and controlled simply by cost! There is something VERY wrong with that! One may even think that this is a Tory plan to thin out the population in lower income areas.
jelly00001
says...
10:09pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Jmac49 wrote:I wasn't referring to Beckenham, I was referring to the fact at QE, the wait for blood tests is ridiculous! Put them back in Gp's surgeries as they do in other areas! You book an appoinent and get seen at that time! Saves going miles for a blood test. Have spoken to other people and what I experiencd is the norm at Beckenham!
So one minute you say Beckenham phebotomy is empty and now you don't want to hang around? I thought Beckenham was empty all of the time?
goldenbroomboy
says...
10:58am Sat 3 Nov 12
jelly00001 wrote:Which is precisely why my family go to Orpington and/or Beckenham for our blood tests rather than wait a long time at PRU.
Jmac49 wrote: So one minute you say Beckenham phebotomy is empty and now you don't want to hang around? I thought Beckenham was empty all of the time?I wasn't referring to Beckenham, I was referring to the fact at QE, the wait for blood tests is ridiculous! Put them back in Gp's surgeries as they do in other areas! You book an appoinent and get seen at that time! Saves going miles for a blood test. Have spoken to other people and what I experiencd is the norm at Beckenham!
So you want extra delays in getting appointments with your GP because of the extra work they will take on with blood tests? I think that most "other people" would disagree with you.
Jmac49
says...
11:09am Sat 3 Nov 12
Marty1979
says...
9:17am Sun 4 Nov 12
jelly00001 wrote:But you referred to Beckenham, now you say you weren't
Jmac49 wrote:I wasn't referring to Beckenham, I was referring to the fact at QE, the wait for blood tests is ridiculous! Put them back in Gp's surgeries as they do in other areas! You book an appoinent and get seen at that time! Saves going miles for a blood test. Have spoken to other people and what I experiencd is the norm at Beckenham!
So one minute you say Beckenham phebotomy is empty and now you don't want to hang around? I thought Beckenham was empty all of the time?
So which hospital was half empty?
tumblesocs says...
2:07pm Mon 29 Oct 12