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8 November 2006
HOSPITAL FIGHT IS NOT OVER SAYS BURNLEY MP
Kitty Ussher MP for Burnley is shocked and appalled by the decision not to refer to national government the decision by local health managers to reconfigure services between Burnley and Blackburn hospitals.
The decision to increase specialisation between Burnley and Blackburn hospitals - with Burnley specialising in planned operations and maternity, and a new 24-7 emergency department in Blackburn - has been proposed and made by local health bosses. National government has not been involved except to say that they are happy to look again at the decision that has been made if it is referred to them by this special committee of councillors, which is the only local body that has the legal power to do so.
In the last few weeks, Kitty has lobbied the members of this committee both individually and collectively. Kitty and neighbouring MP, Gordon Prentice, gave detailed written evidence to explain why we thought this decision should be sent to national government for review and if that wasn't enough then we went to their meeting in person - missing votes in London in order to do so - to argue the case even more clearly. Kitty has also written to everyone who signed her original petition to ask them to make their concerns known to their county councillors as well.
Although it seems that it was to no avail, with the decision made on Tuesday not to review the origional decision, the fight is not over. Burnley has spoken loud and clear and if, as the local managers make these changes, they do anything that compromises patient safety for her constituents Kitty has promised to go back to this committee to try and make them to change their mind and send this decision off to national government for independent review, as she firmly believes they should have done this week.
Kitty said:
"I find this decision absolutely incomprehensible.
This issue has been running for over a year now and it is the biggest
single thing I have worked on since becoming the town's MP, and I know that it is of deep concern to many of my constituents.
Whilst we have secured a few additional improvements - its now nearly 90 per cent of people who currently go to A&E in Burnley who will still be able to do so. We're getting more ambulances. And Burnley will specialise in maternity and gynaecological care (a kind of Edith Watson plus). Waiting lists for operations are expected to keep falling, and mortality rates from heart disease and cancer are expected to keep improving. Yet the fundamental concern, that for most of my constituents it will take longer in an ambulance to get to Blackburn than it currently takes to get to Burnley General remains a deep worry.
Should the safety of patients in Burnley and Padiham be comprimised in any way I'll be back knocking at the door of this committee to urge them to change their mind, and send the decision to National Government, as they should have done in the first place".
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