NHS
Latest update from NHS Devon about Seaton Hospital
The Steering Committee has received a an update from Steve Moore, CEO of NHS Devon. He appreciates our frustration at the time it is taking for discussions, and says: ‘Ideally, a solution will be found that involves a positive future for the former ward,’ but ‘there are many possible ways forward and all of them are being explored for the most appropriate solution.’
He concludes: ‘At this time there are no proposed changes, nor have any service change processes taken place for NHS services or the Seaton community hospital site itself. Any decisions about NHS services from Seaton Hospital will be subject to our service change process and in accordance with our legal duties to involve the public, steering group members, clinicians and local elected members. Currently all services at the hospital continue as normal and there are no proposals to change any services. Local people should continue to attend appointments at the hospital as normal.’
Our Steering Committee, elected at the public meeting two years ago, is pleased that there is no imminent threat to services. But we will continue to press for the whole hospital to be used to provide services locally, as the Seaton area community and the NHS agreed when we raised the money for the Hospital in the first place.
Covid vaccine for 75+ at Seaton Hospital
The NHS spring booster for the over 75s will be given at Seaton Hospital on Saturday 12 April. Book via the NHS app where there are other venues and dates too – or wait for the NHS to offer it to you. Covid is currently at a low ebb but there are new variants and it is still very much a serious threat to health.
Dentist says all surgeries should do NHS work – as Axminster practice forces all patients to go private
BBC reports on a practice in Tavistock which insists all dentists treat NHS patients. Perhaps Axminster Dental Practice should take note?
‘I’m committed to making the NHS more of a neighbourhood care service’ – Wes Streeting
Does this have implications for our hospital, as well as for GP services?
‘We’ve seen off the immediate threat but there’s a lot more to do to save the Hospital’
This was the message at this afternoon’s meeting in the Old Picture House, Seaton. Members of the Hospital Steering Committee, from left to right Jack Rowland (Chair), Martin Shaw (Secretary), Cllr John Heath and Richard Foord MP, gave a full update to fifty or so supporters of the Hospital campaign. The Committee is working hard to develop a plan to use a wing of the hospital for services including dementia care and mental health, and hopes to have a plan agreed with the NHS and NHS Property Services by the summer.
More deliberately misleading advertising from Jupp
Simon Jupp, the MP for the constituency centred on Exmouth, but who is standing as a candidate for our area in the election, is putting out this brochure in Colyton (sent to me by a resident) claiming to be the ‘local MP’, although in fact that is Richard Foord.
Inside, he also claims to be ‘working with health bosses’ to save Seaton Hospital, although of course it is Richard Foord who is doing that, it is Richard who is on our hospital steering committee, and it is Richard who is repeatedly raising the issue in Parliament.
This is deliberately misleading material, although not a surprise from Jupp, who likes to claim he lives locally but only moved into the area to stand as MP.
What is a surprise is that the Gateway in Seaton has allowed Jupp a second slot presenting a quiz night. You’d have really thought that any local community enterprise would think twice before hitching itself so clearly to one side in the election, and especially to the party that caused the dismembering of Seaton Hospital in the first place.
Seaton Hospital made Asset of Community Value by EDDC
East Devon District Council has declared Seaton Hospital an Asset of Community Value, which obliges its owners, NHS Property Services (NHSPS), to give the community first refusal in case of disposal.
NHSPS had opposed the move, but EDDC leader Paul Arnott (Lib Dem, Coly Valley), urged them to recognise local public opinion and refrain from appealing against the decision.
This is another step towards securing the whole of the hospital for continuing use as a centre for health and wellbeing.
Hospital supporters to celebrate campaign so far this Wednesday
Some of the people who’ve been actively campaigning for Seaton Hospital over the last few weeks are getting together for pre-Christmas drinks at the Old Picture House, Harbour Road, Seaton, this Wednesday from 6.30. Why not drop in and join us for an hour or two? (It will also be an opportunity to thank Tim who has let us meet there without charge.)
It’s open season on community hospitals – now Okehampton is in the firing line too
Health bosses to offload Okehampton’s empty hospital ward…
— Read on eastdevonwatch.org/2023/12/08/does-this-internal-nhs-market-produce-sensible-decisions/
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 