Torbay and Southern Devon Health Care NHS Trust is consulting on 'options for care in Ashburton, Buckfastleigh and Bovey Tracey communities'
Last night the Trust together with the Shadow Chair of the local shadow Clinical Commissioning Group held a public consultation meeting in Ashburton Town Hall for local residents, to discuss the proposals contained in the Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust consultation document, which can be found at www.tsdhc.nhs.uk
Of concern to me and doubtless readers of this Blog is Ashburton and Buckfastleigh Community Hospital and its past, present and future. This is because this hospital was, as we heard last night, originally paid for by private subscription, the land given for the purpose, and for 50 years was funded by the two communities. It has survived a number of attempted closures, but despite all of this, it is still there, and its 10 beds and unique local flavour evoke passionate responses in residents. It has a strong League of Friends and its physical siting in the Town means that it is accessible both by the Number 88 bus (which I have Blogged about previously - a grant service) the X38 and it lies just off the A38 and has free parking.
So why the fuss and emotional angst?
Basically my understanding after last night's meeting - and I do very much suggest readers download and see the whole document for themselves - is the the Trust believe that our hospital will not be fit for purpose in the future and that they consider that with an aging population and the requirements of the older population these 10 beds should be transferred to Newton Abbot Hospital, and the monies saved invested in Community Care and treating residents in their own homes including end of life.
The meeting was told that the responses that will be received by the Trust, (to be considered by the Board in March - currently 27th but may be subject to change) will be listen to - it was a consultation.
Not to repeat last night's arguments for and against the proposals, I would though like to highlight some themes from last night that have been raised about the both the process of the consultation and the options being offered.
Last night's meeting raised both procedural and content questions, and in this we as a community are grateful to our Mayor Cllr. Elaine Baker for the time, research and her focus to pursue issues, about the validity of the dates between which the consultation was due (resulting in an extension to the 24th Feb); the papers associated with the consultation not being associated with the consultation (the Estates review has still to be completed as per NHS guidelines); and the non-supplying of specific date for the Ashburton/Buckfastleigh hospital and the running costs of the Newton Abbot PFI hospital. The distribution of the savings being made between Ashburton/Buckfastleigh and the rest of the Trust area, and the increase costs to be generated by community care outside the in patient beds system currently available. And some of the statements about the physical attributes of the building verses Newton Abbot hospital and home care.
Many speakers were concerned about the distribution of leaflets and information about the consultation process and this is leading to a distribution by the Royal Mail of further leaflets to the moorland areas.
Respondents should either complete the on-line form, email: consultation.tsdhc@nhs.net or use the freepost leaflet when it drops through the door or picked up in the Towns.
One thread throughout last night's meeting, echoed by residents young and old, was not only the professional way in which staff & volunteers carry out their duties at the Hospital, but also the caring nature, and the passion which staff have for their work and patients and the community in which they serve.
Ashburton and Buckfastleigh Community Hospital is surely an example of what we should expect from the NHS - when we need acute beds we go to a specialist hospital, but when we need intermediate care or just plain TLC.
It was nice to see Buckfastleigh residents present including the Mayor Cllr. Rudgley and Chair of the League of Friends Dr Peter Edwards. Buckfastleigh residents have the same meeting on Tuesday 29th Jan.
Exactly what is wrong, (I being one of aging residents for whom this is designed), with being able to be restored to full health, or ending our days, within a community context, near our family and friends, in a ward in which we can speak with other patients who we have probably known for years, with family and friends being able to pop-in?
Hey ho, but what do I know!
Ashburton & Buckfastleigh Hospital is at present underused because the local health authority is deliberately sending patients further afield or more often it is full. The recent report stated that it is only used to 805 capacity but according to staff, patients and visitors it seems to be full most of the time. Newton Abbot Hospital is not liked by patients and visitors alike. Their car park is ALWAYS full, expensive and will never cope when the hospital is running at full capacity.
ReplyDeleteThe original hospital was opened in 1875 and built on a plot of land GIVEN to the town by Mr R G Abraham. The hospital was built with funds raised in the towns and supported in this way for the 1st 50 years until taken over by the NHS. The 2 towns continued to fund raise and in 1972 the Hospital League of Friends was formed. When I wrote a history of the hospital in 1998, it had raised over £125,000. Since that date it has continued to raise substantial sums of money, not just for small items but also for major building works. Major works were again carried out 20 years ago and opened by Norman Tebbit. In the last 2 years more major work was carried out and funded by the League of Friends.
The future of small units like Ashburton, Bovey and Moretonhampstead has always been in doubt. In the 1960s, Enoch Powell (then Minister of Health) tried to close all Cottage Hospitals and he succeeded with over 1,000. Ashburton and another 320 survived. By the 1970s the NHS recognised their worth, especially for releasing beds for more seriously ill patients in the larger hospitals.
The same still applies and the whole process of “consultation” by the Trust has been flawed. For example one of the reasons given for the “building not being fit for purpose” is that Ashburton Hospital doesn’t have a lift. Why would it need a lift when it is all on one floor (ground level)? Other “evidence” that clinical standards are poor and that staff are undertrained is both incorrect and demeaning to the hard work and dedication of the staff there.
My personal experience of the hospital in the 40 years I have lived in Ashburton with my family has always been excellent. Minor injuries, visiting friends and family and every other occasion I have had to visit the hospital has been a far more pleasant experience than visiting Newton Abbot, Exeter and Torbay hospitals.
Finally, even if the building is still being used for clinical purposes, if there are no longer any overnight patients it ceases to be hospital and becomes a glorified clinic.