The main news of the week is the devastating Annual Audit Letter from the District Auditor to the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust. 

It is tempting to say we told you so but looking to the future, we must continue to push for the return of more services to Kidderminster which will ease the load on the whole County and by attracting back Kidderminster nurses would reduce the huge agency nursing bill.

I was very pleased to visit the Outpatient Dialysis Unit at Kidderminster, and to see how comfortable and convenient this is, but also to hear that there was no problem with staffing because nurses still wish to work at Kidderminster.

I have had a useful meeting with the officers of the Local Medical Committee, GPs from Redditch, Evesham and Worcester. They are equally aware of the problems in hospital services so the County is now united in its concerns.

I continue to get copies of letters of complaint about hospital services but it is crucial to note that virtually all the letters compliment staff for trying desperately to make the best of a bad situation.

Until we get managers who accept that there is a crisis, rather than trying to cover everything up, I do not think we will see any improvements.

We are now waiting for the report from the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) with keen anticipation.

At a meeting with the CHI Chairman and Chief Executive in London recently, I heard that their inspections always attach great importance to patients’ comments about the service under inspection.

The Community Care Bill (Delayed Discharges) passed its Third Reading without a whimper except for one brave Labour MP who dared to vote against the Government.

All important organisations involved have objected to the proposal to fine Social Services for delayed discharges and yet the Government goes ahead with its plans unchanged.
I wonder if the House of Lords will throw the Bill out!

I have attended helpful meetings about_

Major investment in IT for the NHS has been promised but we need to know if there are any firms capable of delivering IT of this complexity and scope?

R.T.