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EssexGurl
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 222
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 Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:39 am Post subject: The New Harwich Hospital |
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Ok what I have been told hasnt been confirmed so dont shot me if the info I have is wrong.
1. The A&E department is being taken over on about the 18th december, I think by the new pct and for 3 weeks from the middle of december it will be closed. I think at weekends - a coincidance??
2. The Dr's from the health centre are no longer going to be paid to treat their patients at the hospital. The on call doctor thingy service (the one that runs out of clacton) will be paid to give care to those in the hospital. I think that there is nothing stopping our docs visiting but they wont get paid. So the ill people will get treated by someone who knows nothing about them and their history.
3. The dr's from the health centre will not move not only because of the cost but also because they think that the medical centre is sub standard.
As I said before this is as far as I know rumour though I get the feeling that there is a lot of truth in all of this.
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amenity
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 775
Location: Dovercourt
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| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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I have heard from a fairly reliable source that EG is correct. Several questions spring to mind.
Who decided that it was efficient to ask a doctor in Clacton to travel perhaps for as much as 1 to 2 hours per attendance at Harwich?
Was any account taken of the carbon footprint we hear so much about?
Which arbiter will be called in to investigate the state of the accomodation set aside for doctors at the new clinic?
Is such treatment of our doctors a foretaste of the treatment our patients will receive?
amenity |
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amenity
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 775
Location: Dovercourt
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| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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The extract below is taken from the PCT's chairmans report.
See the full document at.
http://216.239.59.104/search?q=ca...te&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8
And we are very pleased to report
that all of our 21 GP practices are
supporting the Practice Based
Commissioning initiative, enabling
our clinicians to have a much closer
involvement in decisions around
commissioning services.
A major landmark in the PCT’s
year has been the completion of
construction at the Fryatt Hospital
and Mayflower Medical Centre,
Harwich. The delay in its opening
has obviously been a major
disappointment to us all, but I’m
sure that within a year or two these
early frustrations will be just a
distant memory and the exciting
new services on offer for patients in
the Dovercourt and Harwich areas
will be what is at the forefront of
everyone’s minds. |
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EssexGurl
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 222
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| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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| amenity wrote: | I have heard from a fairly reliable source that EG is correct. Several questions spring to mind.
Who decided that it was efficient to ask a doctor in Clacton to travel perhaps for as much as 1 to 2 hours per attendance at Harwich?
Was any account taken of the carbon footprint we hear so much about?
Which arbiter will be called in to investigate the state of the accomodation set aside for doctors at the new clinic?
Is such treatment of our doctors a foretaste of the treatment our patients will receive?
amenity |
Our source was reliable too - I was just hoping that there was a little exaggeration there too.
The people I have been talking to seem to think that the 'sacking' of the docs is possibly a little more to do with revenge than saving money. I'd hate to think that this was the case, but you know I think the powers that be could be that petty. |
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amenity
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 775
Location: Dovercourt
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| Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Looking at the papers tonight I give the honour to the EADT over the EG and the Standard.
The hospital was front page with the EADT.
As to content 'cos it was on the front page I bought the EADT couldn't take a chance with the others in case the hospital was not covered.
Seems to me all the assurances about our NHS staying public are worth nought.
Privatise the building, privatise the doctors, presumably privatise the nurses.
What's left.
Years ago Harwich and Dovercourt owned the hospital, in good faith it was transferred to the emerging NHS with promises. Recently it has been spirited away with deft dealing.
Now what? |
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EssexGurl
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 222
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| Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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This is off the EADT website.
A DECISION to stop local doctors from providing patient care at a newly built hospital in an Essex town has been branded “horrendous”.
GPs from three surgeries in Harwich have provided “in hours” care for their patients at the town's hospitals for 50 years.
But the recently formed North East Essex Primary Care Trust (PCT) - an amalgamation of Colchester and Tendring PCTs - has told them their services would no longer be required.
To save money the service will now be provided by Primecare, a company the NHS already uses to provide care for patients at weekends and during the night in Tendring.
The company will take full control of patient care at the new £12million Fryatt Hospital and Mayflower Medical Centre on December 18.
Dr Richard Alldrick, a GP who has worked in a practice in the town for 23 years, is among those to be hit by the changes.
He said: “The new PCT has just taken a unilateral decision that is going to severely affect the people of Harwich and Dovercourt.
“The trouble is that this is a Government driven issue that we can't do anything about but we do feel in Tendring that we've always been the poor relation in regards to Colchester.
“What will be lost is the personal service that the people of Harwich and Dovercourt have had for 50 years. Our input into the hospital will actually now be nil.”
Dr Alldrick is in charge of the Dovercourt Health Centre - one of the three local surgeries affected by the move. The others are run by Dr Austen Wynne and Dr Stuart Child.
The new hospital has been beset by problems, even before opening its doors in September.
Earlier this month the EADT reported the site was still not fully operational and services, including the minor injuries unit, were left unused as workers were sent to Colchester to cover staff shortages.
Questions still remain about the unopened operating theatre and X-ray department while there are fears about the future of the maternity unit.
Vickie Williams, the chairman of Tendring Health Action Group, said people felt the area had been short-changed since the merger of the primary care trusts.
She said: “A doctor knows his patients' needs and their history. This is just horrendous - when doctors cannot go into hospital to see their patients.
“We have had a lot of Government funding - that is not the issue. But Tendring PCT had a surplus which was ear-marked for the area which we no longer have.”
She said that she had written to Paul Zollinger-Read, Chief Executive of the new PCT, to ask for the promised services to finally be delivered.
She added: “They have closed the leg ulcer unit and the minor injuries unit is closed more than it is open.
“I think we will be short changed by the merger - they are going to concentrate on Colchester and we will be the forgotten people.
“We have a beautiful state-of-the-art hospital and it is lovely, but they cannot keep taking the services away from us.”
But Matt Bushell, director of strategic development and commissioning for North East Essex PCT, said all areas of current expenditure were under review.
“We understand some concerns have been raised by patient representatives and other groups in Harwich concerning the provision of 'in hours on call' medical support to the Fryatt Hospital and Mayflower Medical Centre, Harwich.
“This provides a rota of doctors who can be called upon to visit patients on the wards, if such a medical need should arise.
“Specific to the 'in hours on call' service in Harwich, the PCT is putting in place an alternative provider, Primecare, which is already contracted to us for the out-of-hours GP cover in the Tendring area.
“On a pilot basis, Primecare will provide a service to the Fryatt Hospital which includes additional quality standards but at a more competitive cost.”
He said the PCT was responsible for delivering “appropriate, continuing and effective” care to the local population but also for getting best value from its funding allocations.
The new service arrangements in Harwich will be fully reviewed during the pilot period and a tender will then be issued setting out “specification of need” for future requirements, which local GPs will be able to bid for. |
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EssexGurl
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 222
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| Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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And this off the EG website - I didnt see what was in the actual paper, but there was slightly more than this in the standard but I cant believe what a poor write up it got on the EG website.
Long-serving GPs at Harwich's Hospital have been replaced.
The doctors, based in Dovercourt, claimed patients will be furious after the decision by the North East Essex Primary Care Trust.
A new care provider has been chosen to do the ward visits. The scheme is on a three-month trial period. |
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amenity
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 775
Location: Dovercourt
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:48 am Post subject: |
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| And EssexGurl they (Standard) told you to be patient, wait and read it in the paper. |
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EssexGurl
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 222
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 1:00 am Post subject: |
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Yeah I know.
Even though the bit in the standard is bigger than on the EG website it doesnt give as much info and doesnt read as well as the EADT websites story. |
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amenity
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 775
Location: Dovercourt
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:23 am Post subject: |
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| Did you see tonights Evening Gazette Essexgurl? Seems like we might be getting through. |
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EssexGurl
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 222
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:29 am Post subject: |
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| No I dont buy it as a rule. What did it say? |
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amenity
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 775
Location: Dovercourt
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| Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry about the delay on this EssexGurl,
I had got confused with the Standard and Evening Gazette, a Sen moment I'm afraid. |
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amenity
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 775
Location: Dovercourt
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| Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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So they are shutting down the QE2 at Hatfield, must be obvious to all and sundry this government has used all it's cash elswhere.
Instead of providing staff they talk about new buildings, help! |
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ferret
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 37
Location: Harwich
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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Speaking to an outpatient today who said there are few people in the new hospital every time she visits. Lack of staff or lack of facilities? Her main comment was she thought it was a big white elephant.
What is the real problem with the floor?
I have an old aerial from 1949 that clearly shows a hug willow tree in that spot, which always grows near water. Older people can remember going fishing in a huge pond there. Has this anything to do with the present problems? I hear that a hydrologist has inspected the sight. Does anyone know if it is true about the hydrologist and if so what where his findings?l |
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EssexGurl
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 222
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I believe there is a natural spring there. |
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amenity
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 775
Location: Dovercourt
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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| I wonder if TDC would provide the information about the spring and it's consequences under the Freedom of Information act? |
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EssexGurl
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 222
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:33 am Post subject: |
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I cant imagine why they wouldnt.
There was a report in the paper a while ago about the water under the town centre and the hole in the main road - some people I know seemed to think it was part of this and that there may have been more than one spring. |
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ferret
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 37
Location: Harwich
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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I have it on good authority that the little shelter outside the hospital was removed by the contractors and sold for £600 and has been seen at Boxted.
The old hospital site cannot be built on for 5 years.
Only mobile X-rays can be given at the present time.
New euipment for that department not available until next spring or summer. The operating theatre has not got a license for something it needs to use.
No blood tests at Dovercourt or Colchester Hospitals soon as G.P.s are going to do them. Imagine if you need a fasting one and you cannot get an early appointment with your Doctor. |
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EssexGurl
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 222
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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| I have been told that its true about the bus shelter. |
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amenity
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 775
Location: Dovercourt
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Surely this amounts to theft? |
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ferret
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 37
Location: Harwich
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I think you are probably right Amenity, but what can we do about it? |
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Karl Duguid
Joined: 24 Nov 2006
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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| ferret wrote: | I have it on good authority that the little shelter outside the hospital was removed by the contractors and sold for £600 and has been seen at Boxted.
The old hospital site cannot be built on for 5 years.
Only mobile X-rays can be given at the present time.
New euipment for that department not available until next spring or summer. The operating theatre has not got a license for something it needs to use.
No blood tests at Dovercourt or Colchester Hospitals soon as G.P.s are going to do them. Imagine if you need a fasting one and you cannot get an early appointment with your Doctor. |
It's true that the x-ray machine is not a permanent one and that the operating theatre's air pressure has not passed safety standards.
In the interests of balance, I should point out the PCT says those problems are being resolved and there is nothing that was in the old hospital not working in the new one. The new facilities are taking longer to sort out.
John |
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amenity
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 775
Location: Dovercourt
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:59 am Post subject: |
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| Under Health Issues see "Wanna live longa" |
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EssexGurl
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 222
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:20 am Post subject: |
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| amenity wrote: | | Surely this amounts to theft? |
Well I guess that depends. If the shelter was on hospital land then the developers would just claim ownership of everything on the land. But morally I do think it does amount to it.
But as Ferret says what can you do about it. These developers seem to be a law unto themselves at times. |
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EssexGurl
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 222
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:28 am Post subject: |
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| Karl Duguid wrote: | | ferret wrote: | I have it on good authority that the little shelter outside the hospital was removed by the contractors and sold for £600 and has been seen at Boxted.
The old hospital site cannot be built on for 5 years.
Only mobile X-rays can be given at the present time.
New euipment for that department not available until next spring or summer. The operating theatre has not got a license for something it needs to use.
No blood tests at Dovercourt or Colchester Hospitals soon as G.P.s are going to do them. Imagine if you need a fasting one and you cannot get an early appointment with your Doctor. |
It's true that the x-ray machine is not a permanent one and that the operating theatre's air pressure has not passed safety standards.
In the interests of balance, I should point out the PCT says those problems are being resolved and there is nothing that was in the old hospital not working in the new one. The new facilities are taking longer to sort out.
John |
But all these problems should have been sorted out before the hospital was even open - not months and months after it has opened.
Have the reduced facilities lead to reduced rent? If I was to hire somewhere with an understanding to what facilities I had to use I wouldnt pay full rent until I had full facilities. If the PCT are paying full rent there surely is little incentive for the problems to be sorted out properly and quickly.
All the problems with it makes it sound like the developers threw it up as quickly as possible with no real care about what the building was and what it was going to be used for. |
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