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9th August 2007
Local MP Kitty Ussher wrote last week to the chief executive of the hospital trust to express concerns about rumours that the fracture clinic was moving to Blackburn, even before the issue was raised in the press.
She also met personally two weeks ago with the new chairman of the Trust, Alan Green, to express her concerns at the way the reorganisation was being handled. The chief executive, Jo Cubbon, was present at that meeting. In addition she is in an ongoing dialogue with staff representatives as well as members of the public to ensure that the concerns of her constituents are properly represented.
A copy of the letter to the chief executive is below.
Kitty said: “This is just the latest stage in a campaign for Burnley General that has now been running for the best part of two years. To date and in conjunction with the Burnley Express I have helped organise marches through the centre of town, petitions and a meeting with the then Secretary of State for Health as well as raising the matter privately with the Trust on numerous occasions.
“I remain frustrated that this crucially important issue has not been referred to national government for review by the relevant committee of local councillors, to whom I gave evidence last year. But in the meantime the fight goes on to ensure we have the best possible facilities for the people of Burnley and Padiham.
“Many of the final decisions have not been made but it is crucial that Burnley’s voice remains strong and clear while this process goes on, which is why I had raised the particular issue of the fracture clinic, among other issues, behind the scenes even before the most recent rumours hit the press.”
For further information on the campaign for Burnley General, see http://www.kittyussher.com/save.html
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Letter to Jo Cubbon from Kitty Ussher MP
Jo Cubbon
Chief Executive
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Queen's Park Hospital
Haslingden Road
BLACKBURN BB2 3HH
3 August 2007
Dear Jo
I am writing to you to seek clarification and express my concern about how the various workstreams looking at how services should be split between Burnley and Blackburn are developing. Amongst the proposals that were of concern to me was the move of paediatrics to Blackburn, in particular the lack of facilities for overnight assessment and the fact that no consultants will reside in Burnley. I also found worrying the suggestion that haematology and pathology would be moved to Blackburn, and that no fracture clinic would remain in Burnley.
When I spoke to the paediatric team at Burnley General last December they expressed their concern over this to me. I do not think we have had a proper debate about the implications of this suggestion.
It has also come to my attention that patients from the medical wards will be transported during the months of November and February, and may have to be moved twice. I am inclined to believe that transporting elderly patients during the winter months will lead to more patient deaths, and so should be avoided at all costs.
I have also been made aware of possible transport problems between the two sites, and I would like to ensure that a shuttle bus will provided, as originally promised, and that this will run throughout the day and evening, and be suitable for disabled passengers.
Finally, I believe that my constituents will be unhappy to discover that there will be insufficient mortuary facilities in Burnley, which will result in deaths being registered in Blackburn.
I would be more than happy to meet with you to discuss these proposed changes, and to ensure that the information that I have is correct, to allow me to inform my constituents correctly.
With All Good Wishes,
Kitty Ussher
Labour MP for Burnley and Padiham
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