History of the development of Health Concern

FURTHER MILESTONES IN THE CAMPAIGN

1 April 2000 - The three acute hospital Trusts and the Redditch and Worcester Community Trust were dissolved and the two new Trusts formed, the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and the Worcestershire Community and Mental Health NHS Trust.

May 2000 - Because of the continued total failure to get the voice of the people heard at government level further seats were gained in the Wyre Forest District Council elections. (19 out of 42 councillors now sit as 'Independent Kidderminster Hospital & Health Concern' councillors).

May 2000 - decision taken by Kidderminster consultants that in view of the fragility of services (brought about by staff resignations because of the WHA's plan) that Kidderminster General Hospital had to close to acute inpatients before the winter.

June 2000 - publication of the independent Pollock report that confirms that the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital is necessary to afford the new PFI hospital in Worcester. WHA and NHS executive attempt unsuccessfully to discredit this report.

18 September 2000 - hospital closed to all acute inpatients, A&E department downgraded to minor injuries unit without a doctor.

All WHA, NHS Executive and political propaganda has been aimed at saying:

• The hospital has not closed
• 90% of patients will still be treated there
• the changes are all to improve the standard of care for all people in the county.

In our opinion all of these three points without explanation are examples of 'spin'.

From the time of merger of the acute hospital Trusts, Wyre Forest waiting lists have lengthened alarmingly and from the time of closure of inpatient services at Kidderminster reports of dissatisfaction of services at Worcester and Redditch have proliferated entirely predictably.

November 2000 - WHA and Acute Trust admit that the bed provision in the new PFI Worcester hospital is inadequate by requesting resources from Government to fund 112 extra beds.

Wyre Forest GPA and physicians issue statement in support of the WHA plans following the Prime Minister's visit to flooded Bewdley where residents, affected by the floods, told him the hospital issue was more important to them.

January 2001 - overnight beds re-opened at Kidderminster Hospital to enable a fuller range of day case surgery to be performed (as had been predicted to be necessary by ourselves and Kidderminster surgeons months ago). These beds are officially called '23-hour beds' so the Trust can avoid loss of face!

14 January - Sunday Times - Charter Mark is only awarded for "general excellence" - report increases our feeling of isolation as throughout the country there is support for Mr Milburn's attempts to improve the NHS. Here the effects of change are devastation and totally against local people's wishes and their perceptions of their needs. The Sunday Times sees Mr Milburn as "putting himself at the head of the patients' revolt" and thus accepting "the legitimacy of the protest".

BUT NOT IN WYRE FOREST AND SOUTH SHROPSHIRE. WHY?

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