HOSPITAL SERVICES IN WEST CUMBRIA
Despite all the assurances I become increasingly concerned about the
future of local health services in West Cumbria. This is not because I doubt the integrity or good intentions of the people who are running the Primary Care Trusts and the Acute Hospitals Trust, but because the right decisions will have to be taken to keep our local hospitals viable.
In the run up the election I met many members of staff at West
Cumberland and Millom hospitals and I was extremely concerned at the low level of morale amongst excellent doctors and nurses. Two recent high-profile resignations and the response to them do nothing to convince me that this has improved.
The idea of a "Health park" was put forward and this would be one way to kick off a positive strategy for the future, but to date it has not had support at higher levels. And now there is a suggestion that some maternity services might move to Carlisle.
I strongly support the need to retain full maternity services at West Cumberland Hospital and the "Don't move our mums" campaign.
The West Cumberland Acute Hospital Trust faces difficult choices to
maintain a wide range of services to the highest standard, but the problem with the idea of reducing the maternity department at Whatehaven to a community midwifery unit has unfortunate consequence which do not just apply to maternity services, important though they are. Nor is it just about the problem if expectant mothers have an impossibly long journey to give birth - though the trek to Carlisle would be unacceptable for mothers from Whitehaven let alone Gosforth or Millom.
If safe hospital care is to be provided, the different services are
needed to support each other and there has to be a critical mass of
medical expertise. Loss of one speciality can endanger others and cause a domino effect. Each service moved to Carlisle or Newcastle brings us nearer to the point where it ceases to be possible to maintain a district general hospital in West Cumbria.
I believe that the Trust are sincere in their statement that they want to keep a District General Hospital in West Cumbria, but if this is to be achieved we must send out positive signals at every opportunity and campaign to stop the drift of services to other areas.
Reduction of maternity services would not just be a bad thing in its own right but would send all the wrong signals to potential hospital staff.
We have an excellent hospital in the West Cumberland and some brilliant staff at the hospital: we should be proud of everything they have achieved there and work to keep and improve it.
future of local health services in West Cumbria. This is not because I doubt the integrity or good intentions of the people who are running the Primary Care Trusts and the Acute Hospitals Trust, but because the right decisions will have to be taken to keep our local hospitals viable.
In the run up the election I met many members of staff at West
Cumberland and Millom hospitals and I was extremely concerned at the low level of morale amongst excellent doctors and nurses. Two recent high-profile resignations and the response to them do nothing to convince me that this has improved.
The idea of a "Health park" was put forward and this would be one way to kick off a positive strategy for the future, but to date it has not had support at higher levels. And now there is a suggestion that some maternity services might move to Carlisle.
I strongly support the need to retain full maternity services at West Cumberland Hospital and the "Don't move our mums" campaign.
The West Cumberland Acute Hospital Trust faces difficult choices to
maintain a wide range of services to the highest standard, but the problem with the idea of reducing the maternity department at Whatehaven to a community midwifery unit has unfortunate consequence which do not just apply to maternity services, important though they are. Nor is it just about the problem if expectant mothers have an impossibly long journey to give birth - though the trek to Carlisle would be unacceptable for mothers from Whitehaven let alone Gosforth or Millom.
If safe hospital care is to be provided, the different services are
needed to support each other and there has to be a critical mass of
medical expertise. Loss of one speciality can endanger others and cause a domino effect. Each service moved to Carlisle or Newcastle brings us nearer to the point where it ceases to be possible to maintain a district general hospital in West Cumbria.
I believe that the Trust are sincere in their statement that they want to keep a District General Hospital in West Cumbria, but if this is to be achieved we must send out positive signals at every opportunity and campaign to stop the drift of services to other areas.
Reduction of maternity services would not just be a bad thing in its own right but would send all the wrong signals to potential hospital staff.
We have an excellent hospital in the West Cumberland and some brilliant staff at the hospital: we should be proud of everything they have achieved there and work to keep and improve it.
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