Charlotte Monro gave an inspirational speech on why whistleblowers are vital to the protection of our NHS. Bill Howe spoke on the difficulties of getting information from BHRUT. A discussion was had on to take the campaign forward and the next event will be posted up in due course.
The meeting agreed to write the following letter to Mr Hunt the Secretary of State for Health. I will put in the reply when I receive it,
Dear Mr Hunt
Request
to help King George and Queens Hospitals
On
27 October 2011 plans were passed by Andrew Lansley, then Secretary
of State for Health, to close King George Hospital A&E. The
following guarantee was given that no residents would come to harm as
a consequence of the closure:
"The
Health Secretary today accepted a report by the Independent
Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) on the Health for North East London
clinical case for change, which includes the best future for Barking,
Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust.
However, no changes will take place
until the Care Quality Commission, which published its own report on
local services today, has assured the Secretary of State that the
services provided by Queen’s Hospital and other local health
services are of a high standard." ENDs
This guarantee was broken earlier this
year when 24 beds were removed from King George Hospital, a hospital
that is in special measures rather than of a high standard. August
key safety indicators at the King George and Queens Hospitals
declined as a consequence. Beds have also been removed from Queens
hospital, the second hospital which makes up our local trust which
will also lead to a decline in care.
We ask you to honour the guarantee we
were given and intervene to replace the beds, doctors and nurses that
have been removed from our hospitals.
