Dear Barking & Dagenham, Havering & Redbridge Councillors
The latest NHS A&E stats shows BHRUT the worst performing Trust in England for type 1 A&E performance for January 2021. The safety benchmark is 95%, BHRUT came in at 39.5%. I quote from a Health Service Journal article of 12th February .
“Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust has struggled with the accident and emergency access target for years. Its longstanding staffing and capacity problems have been dramatically exacerbated by covid and in January it only dealt with 39.5 per cent of patients inside the four-hour target. “
BHRUT accept there is a bed shortage of 90 beds, 60 for the elderly & 30 for specialist medicine. A video of the board discussing this shortage is my twitter @andywalker1945 for the 29th November. My expectation is that even more beds and doctors are required to reach NHS safety benchmarks.
Our latest campaign meeting for a new wing takes place on Saturday 27th March at 3pm. So far we have Keith Prince AM, Cllr Nic Dodin, Rosemary Warrington of the Green Party & Pete Mason of the Socialist Party. We also have a number of trade unionists speaking and I hope the platform will grow. If you would like to speak please get in touch with me.
I am minded to formalise the campaign by setting up a bank account with £25 affiliation fee for local groups to join to cover campaigning costs and so build support for the campaign. This can be discussed at the 27th March meeting. The aim is for local political party branches, trade unions, faith groups, resident associations etc to affiliate.
Should you wish to speak on the 27th March and or discuss being listed as a supporter on the campaign website do contact me. First draft of constitution is:
“The campaign seeks to campaign for a new wing at King George Hospital on a cross party and cross borough basis to improve care for residents in Barking & Dagenham, Havering & Redbridge. To this end we seek £25 affiliation fees from local political party branches, trade unions, faith groups, resident associations & other community groups. How best to drive the campaign forward will be discussed at public meetings which will be held at least twice a year with an Annual General Meeting to elect officers”
Regards
Andy Walker
07956 263088
