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Posted
11th May 2008:
Dear
Sir,
there
have been lots of politics played recently in the
press in regard to St Johns. As a taxpayer I would
be much happier if they would find out who on the
health board is responsible for the waste of money
that is the new barriers and machines bought for
the car park before they knew that they could even
install them? None of the new equipment is being
used! Who made this decision but didn’t do
their homework in respect of the local planning
laws? How much taxpayers money was wasted on this
white elephant? Was it as much as £50,000?
In light of this and the
reported selling off of £100mill of publicly
owned assets. Does anyone else think that there
should be an investigation of their mismanagement
of public funds?
A. D
Posted
2nd April 2008:
Dear
Stop the Downgrade,
I am staff at St Johns, I find the whole situation
at St Johns deplorable, NHS Lothian has no interest
in St Johns. There has been no inward investment
towards St Johns - oh, sorry - we got a new front
door. Let's look at the services provided -
The "new" renal unit - there had been
a campaign in West Lothian for years before the
Renal unit was built. The Renal Unit is a self contained,
self running and managed from the "city"
unit. St Johns has little or no involvement in the
day to day management of the renal unit. It is a
satellite unit of the RIE and WGH. The staff are
dedicated and caring and provide an excellent service
but it is a mistake that the Renal unit is associated
with St Johns. For all its addition to St Johns
it could of been built in Morrisons car park for
all that it adds to St Johns.
The "mental health mother and baby unit"
- this is old ward 16 - so West Lothian has lost
psychiatric beds for a national eight bedded unit.
Where did the ward 16 patients go?
The ENT unit - this has always been at St Johns.
This is a regional service now, contrary to the
Campaign website this does offer both trauma and
elective surgery. The ward admits patients from
all areas, including the Borders. This unit has
a very busy list and provides the ITU and Theatres
with a large proportion of their case loads. The
unit in conjunction with the plastic surgery unit
is continuing to provide more and more complex life
saving and life preserving surgery in more and more
complex patients. More patients are being admitted
with a greater array of complex illnesses and disorders
requiring both, plastic surgery, maxillo facial
and ear nose and throat surgery. The main issue
affecting the success of the ENT / Maxillo facial
and Plastic surgery units is the provision of the
ITU and HDU service within the hospital. These units
are poorly staffed and appear to be overwhelmed
with emergency patients with the resultant cancellations
of elective surgery.
The "observation ward" - This is simply
the day bed units old home, there has been no useful
changes in the ward. The side rooms have simply
been changed into offices and store rooms. The ward
is chronically understaffed, there is generally
one trained nurse overnight for up to thirty patients.
These are supposed to be stable patients but are
now becoming sicker and sicker. In addition the
ward is admitting patients from Accident and Emergency.
On one occasion there was one trained nurse and
two nursing assistants for twenty patients with
one patient being aggressive, five patients requiring
intravenous antibiotics (which need two trained
nurses to give), one patient awaiting an ambulance
and two patients on route from accident and emergency.
Is this safe and effective? NOT
Surgical Services - There are no surgical services
or orthopaedic services at St Johns yet the West
Lothian GP's constantly send patients. However if
patients turn up very sick then a surgeon has to
come from Edinburgh to operate. The downfall is
that there are no longer wards able to look after
the person after their operation, usually they have
to to the gynecology ward as they are now the only
staff able to give some kind of care.
ITU. This ward appears to be totally understaffed
and very busy. Their appears to be only two or three
staff on at any time who even work in St Johns the
rest are made up of agency nurses or nurses borrowed
from other hospitals. Yet patients continue to be
admitted to this ward. You often hear that the ITU
ward has only three staff on for three patients
yet accident and emergency are sending them more
patients. Wards are being asked to cover breaks
for ITU, yet there are no staff within st johns
who came can care for an ITU patient. Is this a
safe situation..and can it continue?. This is supposed
to be the ENT/Maxfax and Plastics dedicated ITU
yet it can't even manage its own caseload for admitting
medical patients.
CCU. This ward is again very,very busy but staff
say they are undervalued by NHS Lothian. They feel
they are losing all the interesting patients to
Edinburgh.
A&E. Again this is a totally understaffed unit,
yet is becoming busier and busier. Staff estimate
that the throughput has increased by at least thirty
percent. The Out of Hours GP service is moving into
accident and emergency, this will take away two
cubicles from accident and emergency, making patient
management even harder.
Medical wards. These are very, very busy wards.
Yet they are understaffed, especially when compared
to similar wards within RIE and WGH, yet they have
a lower incidence of MRSA, CDIFF than both the "city"
hospitals. What people fail to realise is that St
Johns runs with only minimal staffing at night -
two trained instead of six. There is no room for
manouver within St Johns.
From speaking to staff, relatives and patients it
appears that all fear for the future when the new
larbert hospital is opened. Many staff have expressed
a desire to leave St Johns and go and work for another
health board.
St Johns is admitting an ever increasing number
of medical patients despite no increase in its catchment
area, more and more people are moving into West
Lothian (and thus into St Johns) yet their has been
no real investment in St Johns. What happened to
the sixty new acute medical beds that medical staff
had suggested were badly needed. yet the WGH is
getting a new revamped acute receiving area.
It is little wonder that staff at St Johns are worn
down and morale is so low. All decisions are taken
at Edinburgh level, favour Edinburgh and place West
Lothian patients at a significant disadvantage.
Staff at both the WGH and RIE feel the same, they
have huge morale problems and are suffering under
the increased workload. This is not the place to
identify their concerns and worries but we should
not castigate them, they are blameless pawns in
the game played by NHS Lothian. The RIE is becoming
dirty and filthy and its not the staff's fault -
they are having to admit more patients than the
hospital was designed for, they are grossly overworked
and stressed. When the RIE was built it had two
hundred less beds, they are admitted three times
more than ever, the A&E at the RIE was the busiest
in Europe even before the closure of emergency services
at St Johns. What has NHS Lothian done - they have
landed the massive workload generated from West
Lothian (and was treated at St Johns) onto an already
heaped plate. Little wonder that the RIE is falling
apart at the seams.
The NHS Lothian managers and politicians who support
it should spend a week in St Johns, spend time speaking
with patients, explaining to their relatives why
their eighty year mother has to go to Edinburgh
for a hip replacement after a fall in St Johns,
explaining why their son has to go to Edinburgh
for treatment for a GI bleed at one o'clock in the
morning, why their fathers surgery has been cancelled
because their are no beds in the HDU ward, why their
sister has to be rushed through to st johns after
her bowel has been damaged during birth, why the
ambulance has to drive past St Johns with the son
on board after he has broken his leg playing football.
It is okay for NHS Lothian managers and politicians
who sit in big fancy offices earning thousands for
doing nothing to speak via their official mouthpieces
whilst it is the underpaid, undervalued, demoralised
staff at St Johns (and at the Western, RIE, Sick
Kids etc) who have to pick up the pieces made by
them.
So please don't complain about the staff at all
sites (St Johns, WGH and RIE) unless they are to
really to blame, complain about the senior managers
and politicians who make the decisions. Us frontline
staff are tired and fed up of defending the poor
decisions made by our great and good. When making
a complaint ask - is this due to the policy decisions
taken by senior management?
Details
supplied
Posted
29th March 2008:
TEAM
I
read with interest Mrs. Mulligan MSP’s latest
statements in March she quoted Miss Sturgeon MSP
as stating "St. Johns had not and will not
be downgraded", I seem to remember Mrs Mulligan
and her colleagues both parliamentary and Council
making the exact same statements during the recent
elections, all vehemently denied the downgrading
of St John’s or service removals from St.
John's, however now Mrs Mulligan says of Ms Sturgeons
statement that - in her words- “nothing could
be further from the truth” and demands services
be returned.
Do
we therefore assume that she is now admitting that
St. John’s was downgraded and that services
were lost during her and her parties tenure in office
(she must be as you cannot return that which has
not left)?
I
suggest that Mrs Mulligan’s letter and those
of several of her colleagues printed in the press
recently owe more to amnesia and hypocrisy than
good sense and judgement. They downgraded St. Johns
over several years yet she demands that their years
of destruction and damage are repaired immediately
by the new administration.
Services must be returned
but safely and with the relevant support services
to secure them so that this fine hospital it’s
staff and West Lothian’s Healthcare can never
again be decimated by any political party putting
policy before the people.
AD
Posted
20th March 2008:
Team,
In
respect of the letter posted previously regarding
the standard of care supplied at St John’s,
as a senior member of nursing staff can I please
explain that this deplorable state is due entirely
to NHS Lothian policies being visited on me and
my colleagues.
In particular, there is such
an obsession with the 4 hour waiting time target
that the care of existing in-patients is being reduced.
We are now at the stage of moving patients, including
those with serious illness and the elderly, several
times during their stay, sometimes in the middle
of the night.
We don’t want to do
this but are being forced by management who take
their orders from Edinburgh.
To add insult to injury,
wards are being allowed to run in a permanent state
of understaffing. Even when we are on our knees
we are not allowed to go to agency. We come to work
on our days off and we often leave well after the
end of our shifts. The place is running on goodwill
and this is disappearing rapidly.
Worse still, the Royal is
frequently on red alert which means it can’t
take its own patients. Our managers then ship them
out to St John’s, adding further to our workload.
When the Royal fails to cope it is us that pick
up the pieces, and with no extra staff. It is West
Lothian patients who are then boarded throughout
the hospital to accept the Edinburgh influx. On
Monday 17th March St. John’s was bursting
at the seams and struggling with lack of beds and
staff, but we were still made to take several transfers
from the Royal.
Believe me when I say that
normally dedicated staff are working beyond their
limit and that morale is at rock bottom.
For
Lothian Health Board, St John’s is just a
large decanting facility to allow the Royal to cope
and meet its targets.
Details
supplied
Posted
17th March 2008:
Hello.
I
am a member of staff at St. Johns. Unfortunately
my daughter was an in-patient for 8 days and I was
appalled at the level of nursing care she received.
In 8 days she was transferred to 6 different wards,
some of these transfers were during the night when
she should have been asleep. In 8 days her sheets
were changed twice even though she was pyrexial.
She is 19 yrs old and ended up in a geriatric ward.
What kind of care is that? I'm disgusted with the
level of care offered at St. Johns.
Details
supplied
Posted
20th February 2008:
Re:
SDC Statement 20th January 2008
- How can the St. John's Staff Unison representative
possibly be a senior member of the NHS Lothian Board?
Surely
this is a massive conflict of interest where the
interests of the Staff must be severely compromised
when their Union representative's over-riding loyalty
must be to his paymaster and fellow Board Members.
What
qualifications does this Union representative have
to merit one of the most senior NHS Lothian Board
positions other than a willingness to be kept on
a tight leash by the Board?
Unbelievable
cronyism!
No
wonder St. John's Staff are getting such raw deals
on salaries, conditions and parking charges!
This
situation should be rectified immediately with the
proper election of an independent Union representative
from the general work force who can properly look
after the Staff interests.
WFG
West Lothian
Posted
8th February 2008:
I
suffer from arthritis in my hip and now am in need
of a hip replacement. I am now walking with a stick
to alleviate the pain on walking any distance. I
am suffering this pain because I do not want to
go into the RIE and would have no hesitation about
going to St. John's which is just on my doorstep.
I
have heard from friends and neighbours about their
experiences in RIE, the unpalatable food, the dirty
conditions of wards and toilets, all contributing
to the risks of contracting MRSA and other infections.
Another
factor is the cost of car parking and the distance
visitors are required to travel. I would not expect
people to visit me should I be forced to go to RIE.
CC
Posted
23rd January 2008:
Dear
Campaigners,
As usual neither my husband nor I will be able to
attend the meeting but we fully are behind your
campaign. St. John's must be reinstated to its full
potential and we must find ways of combating the
powers that be who have other intentions. We were
also dismayed to learn that it appears 'Nicola'
has been misinformed by her advisors. This must
be rectified immediately and exposed for what it
is. It is appreciated that many do not agree with
the politics now in force for apart from whatever
political persuasion everyone should at least 'play
fair' - Not adopt deceitful underhand attitudes.
At 80 years of age we personally can fully appreciate
the trials and tribulations of having to travel
so far for treatment which should be available on
our doorstep. If it is the intention to make it
a geriatric hospital as you say then this has to
be stopped.
We
have to do everything possible to get the 'blockage'
removed, to ensure that the right people are in
authority and that properly qualified people are
in place where needed. The underhand way of running
down St. Johns has to be exposed and our present
Government has to be aware of the deceit which is
taking place to undermine their authority and promises.
It appears that the opposition will stop at nothing
to get back in power.
Just a thought - The people who are constructing
The Elements in our Town Centre, tell us that there
is a catchment area of 2,000,000 people for these
shops. Does the same figure apply for St. John's?
If so it should be a flagship hospital.
AND do the NHS still intend the Larbert Hospital
to look after us as well? Why on earth did we have
such a lovely Hospital constructed on our doorstep
if they intend us to travel - in these times we
are told carbon footprints count - not with NHS
it seems.
JM
Posted
23rd January 2008:
Re RIE hygiene item:
Is this the new flagship hospital that is costing
US so much money?
Just what are they doing with OUR money? They certainly
are not spending it on support services, and who
is holding them to account? I wouldn't use my money
to supply food like that in the community so why
should my taxes be used to buy food like that in
hospitals?
If there is any justice then this hospital will
not be the NHS Lothian board's legacy, it will be
their folly and hopefully downfall. If they ran
a company like this they would have been sacked
long ago, but because it's OUR money from the PUBLIC
purse and not shareholders then they get away with
it.
No wonder the hygiene standards are so low when
they are maximising the Bank shareholders profit
margins whilst we pay AND are suffering these conditions.
A double whammy.
I wonder where those reaping the benefit are being
treated for their healthcare and what the food is
like there?
It's time we all said enough is enough and make
them answer to those who pay the piper and before
they are allowed to run riot with anymore of OUR
taxes.
AD
Posted
11th January 2008:
Having
been a patient in RIE I can assure your readers
that the conditions are exactly as portrayed in
the pictures on your site - I related to every picture
posted.
Please
keep highlighting these issues as the people of
West Lothian need to realise before it is too late
that Lothian Health Board have inflicted on us a
second class system whilst cherry picking all the
services and health care professionals for Edinburgh.
We have no equal access and no equal status when
it comes to Health Care. Lothian Health Board took
West Lothian's budget and ran, now we are paying
the price.
I
beg all of West Lothian not to wait until they have
to suffer to stand up and speak up now.
Thank you for all your ongoing efforts. I, having
been a victim of the health boards bias, assure
you of my support.
JM
Posted
11th January 2008:
Have
just been looking at the photographs taken by a
patient during a stay in the ERI. Absolutely shocking!
Is
this the wonderful hospital that more and more people
from WEST LOTHIAN are being transferred to? Things
haven't changed since I was a patient there in 2005
or since the Frontline Scotland program filmed there
last Autumn presented by Eleanor Bradford.
We
have been told it is for our own good and safety
that some services have been transferred from St
John's Hospital in Livingston to the ERI!
The
NHS Lothian should hang their head in shame. Patient
care seems to be the last thing on their agenda.
This is a very frightening situation which seems
to be getting worse far less being addressed.
We
must fight to have our services returned to St John's
Hospital where they rightly belong and where they
scored 94% for cleanliness in a survey taken last
year. The ERI only scored 83%
and was rated as one of the dirtiest hospitals in
the Country. It certainly is living up to it's disgraceful
reputation.
Please
support the SDC team by coming along to the next
meeting to be held later this month They are fighting
for your Hospital on behalf of the West Lothian
people
EB
Posted
2nd November 2007:
It
was a shock this week to learn that one of our real
fears (and no doubt our opponents would think of
it as a hypothetical scenario) actually came to
pass – that there was a fatal car crash and
eight vehicle pile up near to the Livingston junction
on the M8 motorway.
The
West Lothian Courier reported that the casualties
were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.
What scandal.
Those
who have chosen to enter into public service –
who represent the interests of ‘we, the public’
- need to have a serious think to themselves. For
the record I shall record my concerns to my councillors
and MSP regarding this issue.
L
McD
Posted
26th October 2007:
[Increased
parking charges at St. John's hospital halted]
Congratulations!!!!!
SDC Team has worked tirelessly on the behalf of
West Lothian and won again!! On behalf of many THANK
-YOU!
E
D
Posted
16th October 2007:
I
made arrangements with my family to visit my son-in-law
in the High Dependancy Unit of the cardiothoracic
department at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and towards
this end checked the time table for the 400 bus
from the internet site Traveline. I was heartened
to see that a bus went through Midcalder at 1407
which arrived at the Infirmary in time for visiting.
This
morning the post delivered to me a magazine from
West Lothian Council aimed at pensioners in the
county and to put off time before leaving to catch
the bus I flicked through the pages. I noted a paragraph
on transport to the Infirmary and did a double take
when I noted that the 1407 bus was not mentioned.
I at once phoned the number given and was flabbergasted
to be told that very few buses now went through
the villages but the next one did stop at Wilkieston.
Why not East Calder ?
Is
this not a downgrade on visiting our loved ones
who are being treated at the infirmary? In order
to get there I must now travel backwards to Livingston
centre or onwards to Wilkieston. This service was
trumpeted in the local press as being additional
to the 400 but as far as I can see it is a detrimental
step backwards.
BH
Posted
12th October 2007:
Queue to ponder St John's
irony
Sitting
stuck in the traffic queue at St. John's recently
the irony of the situation was not lost.
NHS Lothian have created
an accident black spot at the very gates of the
hospital which they have denuded of the services
to cope with emergencies.
Even falling victim to their
black spot will not get you past the gates to St.
John's as there are no means to deal with the injured
and not even a mortuary for any fatalities.
You couldn't make it up!!
T
D, West Lothian
Posted
10th October 2007:
Today
I had a hospital visit but when I arrived at the
barrier it read not in use...so when I came out
I never got a ticket as it read NOT IN USE.
I
drove up and was surprised to see the barrier was
in use. I pressed the call button and explained
the situation to the call handler whom I felt was
very abrupt and rather smart. By this time a queue
of cars were behind me. The call handler proceeded
to order me to reverse my car (and all the cars
the length of the car park) to purchase a ticket.
I have only used the car park on one other occasion
since the new system was introduced , which I received
a ticket on the way in and paid on the way out.
The way I was treated today was a disgrace, I have
no problem in the £1 fee but think it should
be more clear to people on entering the car park
how the system works. I have come home feeling very
upset and embarrassed as I had to make all the innocent
drivers move.
I hope no other person is made to feel like this.
Mrs J R
Posted
8th October 2007:
Does
the arrogance, pomposity and sheer cheek of NHS
Lothian know no bounds?
First,
they ignore a prior notice informing them of their
requirement to apply for planning permission to
install their new ticket machine at the entrance
to St. Johns car park. Then, they proceed anyway.
When they are subsequently informed that they still
require planning permission and that there are serious
road safety issues which require that they cease
to use the illegal machine, John Jack (Director
of Facilities for NHS Lothian) responds by saying
"we have now sought the advice of an independent
planning consultant!"
Is
this the same cash-strapped Health Board which is
starving hospital wards and department of vital
supplies? Is this the same Board which now has the
audacity to use taxpayers' money to consult an independent
planning consultant not only to assist them in fleecing
these same taxpayers of more of their hard earned
money but also to aid them in taxing the sick and
divesting the staff of some of their 2.5% pay rise?
NHS
Lothian is a prime example of why health Boards
need to be directly accountable to the people. We
therefore demand that NHS Lothian is dissolved and
replaced by a fully elected board.
WJM
& ED EH48
Posted
28th August 2007:
I
was incensed to read the story of Jim Devine MP
causing a fuss at the cost of his taxi from Edinburgh
airport to his home in Blackburn resulting in a
cut price journey for him.
Due
to his party and their policy of centralisation
and PFI my friend found herself alone at night outside
the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, never
having been there before and having no knowledge
of Edinburgh she had no option but to take a taxi
home cost £49 the same as Mr. Devine should
have paid, but unlike Mr Devine she has no choice,
unlike Mr. Devine she had no influence with which
to barter for a reduction and unlike Mr. Devine
she has no expense account to claim recompense.
It would appear that what is Sauce for the goose
is definitely not sauce for the gander in Mr.Devine's
eyes, he has no compunction about patients paying
to travel to and from hospitals but baulks at paying
to travel to and from airports!
Speaks volumes!!
AD West Lothian
{ATSSJH
Councillor nominated to NHS Lothian Board}
Posted
26th August 2007:
Congratulations
on this recent accomplishment which should ensure
the voice of the people in this district to be heard
on the LHS Board.
This
is a great step forward, well done.
J
& JD
Posted
23rd August 2007:
Folks,
You have all done us proud, well done to you all.
We will be walking with you, and let democracy flourish,
congratulatons again!!!! (And thanks for all of
your hard work!)
DC
Posted
23rd August 2007:
CONGRATULATIONS
As said previously anyone in charge of a Council,
Committee or similar who refuses to allow the participation
of a democratically elected member by public wish
should not be allowed to remain in charge. We are
told we live in a democracy not a dictatorship.
Also much appreciate the latest newsletter. Extremely
interesting. Particularly to those of us who are
unable to attend the meetings.
We are with you in spirit. All power to the cause,
We must and will win.
J&A McF
Posted
23rd August 2007:
Congratulations!
HC
Posted
13th August 2007:
What
is wrong with Doctor Winstanley? Why won't he accept
the petitions to stop the car park charges. Does
he not realise that if patients have visitors twice
a day for 7 day's a week that is £14 a week
or if the charge has gone up to £2. £28
a week.
That
is a tax on the sick people and a heavy burden on
drivers who have family to support. Car drivers
will be looking for other places to park.
And
why should Doctor Winstanley try to block Councillor
John Cochrane from joining the board? What has he
got against an experienced and knowledgeable man
who knows the hospital ropes? I would welcome any
experienced person on the board as we need a good
well run hospital. A hospital we the people can
be proud off and which the people of Livingston
helped equip.
E.
Posted
16th July 2007:
It
was with great dismay, given the following report
in this weeks press, that I was made aware that
wards and departments in St. John's have ran out
of vital supplies. Perhaps others can give you some
more information on the supplies situation and how
it is impacting on patient staff and hospital moral.
As the report states savings next year have to double
what suffering then? Is this the hidden price that
we, the tax payer, are paying for PFI?
ED
Big
hospitals' saving target raised to £20m. LOTHIAN'S
main hospitals have been ordered to almost double
the amount of money they are saving over the coming
year. The hospitals have been set a target of saving
£21.7 million - compared to the £11.5m
achieved last year. Spending on agency nurses, taxi
bills and drugs are expected to be cut as part of
the drive. (Evening News Monday 9th July 2007).
Posted
28th June 2007:
OBITUARY
It
was with great sadness that since our last meeting
we have learned of the loss of Mr. John Strachan
a campaign stalwart since 2004.
John was a passionate supporter of the hospital
and was on the first demonstration outside St. John’s.
He was the first campaigner with a placard and even
had leaflets printed which he funded from his own
pocket and handed out at demos, meetings and even
in Holyrood, and he soon had us all joining in with
their distribution.
We
all remember with a smile John pulling on his KEEP
ST JOHNS ACUTE t-shirt over his shirt, tie and pullover
in the bus on the way to Holyrood to lobby Malcolm
Chisholm, and then that night on Scotland Today
there was John in the public gallery overlooking
the floor of the chamber still proudly wearing his
t-shirt.
In
the intervening years John continued to write in
support of St. John’s to MP’s, MSP’s,
Prime Ministers and First Ministers alike.
We were all delighted to see him arrive at the first
meeting of the Stop the Downgrade Campaign and although
frailer and joking that his t-shirt would now do
him for a night-goon, the passion was still there,
a Union man fighting for public services - as it
should be.
We
were sad to hear how ill he was and of his admissions
to hospital, where by all accounts he continued
campaigning by talking to staff and patients about
the downgrading of the hospital and he kept us posted
by letters which also included donations to the
fighting fund for which we are very grateful.
We
were heartened to know that through his family and
Ashok, John was aware of the campaigns election
success and that there was now hope for the future
of St. John’s.
We are delighted to have the continued support of
John’s family to whom we offer our heartfelt
and sincere condolences.
When
this battle is won, the war is over and St John’s
is again a fully staffed fully fledged acute hospital
it will be tribute and testament to the people of
West Lothian who, like John fought for what was
right and just and stood up to be counted.
John
encapsulates the fighting spirit of this campaign
and its supporters.
St.
John’s could have had no better advocate than
John Strachan.
We
are proud to have known him.
The
SDC Team
Posted
24th June 2007:
Re:
the ERI Transport
Since the SNP took control of the West Lothian Council
they have been very quick to look into the transport
to the ERI as they promised in their election campaign.
I
had a meeting on 1st June and another on the 11th
June with Peter Johnston and Roy Mitchell (transport
manager) when we looked very closely into the difficulties
people were experiencing and we came up with proposals
which were put to the Council on the 18th June.
It
was proposed and passed that a direct bus will be
introduced running from St. John's to the ERI and
should commence in September. The time table is
being looked into. In the meantime the existing
Healthlink 400 will continue to run.
A
request has been made to the Scottish Executive
for funding to run direct services from the West
of the county also directly to the ERI.
I
am delighted that the SNP and Hospital Campaigners
have moved so quickly.
Elsie Boyd
Posted
16th June 2007:
The
following is a reprint of comments sent to the letters
page of West
Lothian News, the online newspaper.
An
initial letter from Bristow Muldoon and subsequent
responses are shown below.
It was Andy Kerr who
secured the future of St John's
Thursday, 14 June 2007 -
SIR,
It was with some surprise that I read the article
published regarding St. John's future being "more
secure" following a statement by the SNP Health
Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.
The truth is that in spite of the scaremongering
of the "Stop the downgrade" group the
future of St. John's was secured years ago whilst
Andy Kerr was the Health Minister, that all that
Ms Sturgeon has done in the case of St. John's is
to back the position set out by Mr. Kerr in late
2004, and when NHS Lothian gave assurances on supporting
and enhancing services at St. John's. Services which
have seen additional consultants include A &
E, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Paediatrics,
whilst ITU beds have been assured, St. John's has
been awarded university teaching status, St. John's
is now the regional centre for head and neck surgery,
and a catchment review was already underway before
the elections and will be implemented early in 2008.
I was particularly surprised to read the comments
of Cllr. Cochrane, as it was my understanding that
he and his group wished to see the return of trauma
orthopaedic services and emergency general surgical
services, however in a parliamentary answer to Mary
Mulligan MSP Nicola Sturgeon responded, "Trauma
orthopaedic and general surgery were moved from
St. John's Hospital and transferred to the Royal
Infirmary of Edinburgh in 2004 and I understand
from NHS Lothian that they have no current plans
to review their decision. It is not our intention
to undertake a general review of service changes
that have been made in the NHS."
Why are the "independent" health campaigners
not denouncing the SNP, as Ms Sturgeon has instructed
other health boards to revisit their plans on service
changes?
I have for some time believed that the "independent"
health campaigners were an anti-Labour organisation,
which they denied in the approach to the elections,
but their actions since of voting in support of
a Tory/SNP administration of West Lothian Council,
in taking senior paid positions within the Council
nothing to do with health, and now in meekly supporting
the SNP when they clearly have no intention of returning
emergency surgical services exposes them as nothing
more than political stooges of the nationalists.
There will be many people who took the "independent"
health campaigners at their word who will now be
horrified to find that their votes have been used
not to benefit St. John's, but to prop up a nationalist
administration that took fewer seats and votes on
the Council than Labour.
Bristow
Muldoon, Livingston
Andy
Kerr no more "secured" St John's than
he did Ayr and Monklands
Friday, 15 June 2007
SIR, Mr Muldoon makes a number
of assertions and these inaccuracies should not
go unchallenged.
A hospital does not become secure just because it
is awarded university teaching status or because
new consultant appointments are made.
These consultants (like the
others at St John's) hold Lothian contracts and
they can be moved anywhere depending upon clinical
need. This is called redeployment and many staff
at St John's have experienced this as services are
moved to Edinburgh.
Everyone (including Mr Muldoon)
agrees that an increased catchment population is
vital for St John's long term future. However, the
catchment review has been ongoing for almost three
years. Moreover, NHS Lothian has not promised that
this will be implemented. It will be subject to
public consultation. Already, patient groups in
Edinburgh are voicing their disquiet at the prospect
of having to "come out" to St John's.
Andy Kerr no more "secured"
St John's than he did Ayr and Monklands when he
allowed notices of closure to be served on their
A and E departments.
Prior to the election, Mr Muldoon stated that he
would "take no lessons from me in standing
up for St John's." He didn't need to. The lesson
was provided by his own constituents who deserted
him in droves and converted a 3670 majority Labour
seat into an 870 vote win for the SNP. It is a supreme
irony of politics that in a tight election, the
victory in Livingston propelled the SNP into government
at Holyrood!
I would encourage Mr Muldoon
to look more closely at what he sees in print. Already
our Councillors are working with colleagues across
the entire political spectrum to fulfil our Campaign
aims, including the repatriation of emergency services
lost to Edinburgh under his watch.
We will keep the community
informed through our website - www.stopthedowngrade.org
- and at regular public meetings, the next of which
is at the Kaim Park at 7.30pm on Thursday 28th June.
The glaring omission from this process is the local
Labour Party, some of whose members seem to have
no interest other than re-running the election campaign
ad nauseam. This does them no credit and it diminishes
our collective ability to resuscitate the hospital.
Once again, I urge Mr Muldoon
and his supporters to join us in an all-party campaign.
They can use their considerable talent and influence
to help us restore St John's as a fully-fledged,
emergency hospital. In so doing they will not only
enhance health provision locally, but also make
a significant contribution to the welfare of the
entire population of Lothian.
Dr
Ashok J Jacob, Leader, Action to Save St John's
Hospital
St John's campaigners are a breath of fresh air
Friday, 15 June 2007
SIR,
In balance to the somewhat bitter comments of Mr
Muldoon can I say in all sincerity that I have found
the St Johns campaigners to be a breath of fresh
air at West Lothian Council.
They have from day one stated their case clearly
and concisely and have remained unwavering in
fighting for the best future possible for our vital
local hospital. I personally value greatly their
advice and knowledge when dealing with "Health"
issues.
Perhaps the reason they do
not condemn the SNP is that at both local and national
level we are prepared to talk positively to them
about the best way forward. This is in stark contrast
to Bristow's beloved Labour party who have and continue
to try and belittle and dismiss them at every turn.
Perhaps Bristow would like
to comment on how, when the likes of Bruce Ferrie
were telling us that staff were happy and the hospital
was in no danger, those very same staff were being
prevented
for fear of dismissal from saying what they really
thought. John and Ellen have forgotten more about
health than any of our local Labourites will ever
know.
I have no doubt should we
(the SNP) fail to meet expectations in relation
to St John's then the hospital campaigners will
(quite rightly) give us just as hard a time. I do
not however see that happening.
Perhaps Bristow would do
well to remember that they are democratically elected
representatives of the people, a position to which
he can no longer lay claim.
Councillor
Andrew Miller, SNP - Livingston North
I know who I believe
about St John's
Friday, 15 June 2007
SIR, IT is with yet again some anger and disappointment
I read the latest comments by Bristow Muldoon former
M.S.P
To come out with comments which are so typical of
his party just "spin" the stop the downgrade
campaign has only one agenda to preserve, sustain
and hopefully improve services at St Johns .
The people who voted for
the health campaigners have nothing at all to fear
as they have at least got a voice within the council
which will be acknowledged and listened to ..
I recognise Bristow's comments
and concerns regarding a Tory provost and mutual
allegiance with the S.N.P. and it is to put it simply
a strange alliance given their opposing political
beliefs..
This however in my opinion
pretty irrelevant to the St John's issue .. as this
is far more important than any cheap put downs .
I would suggest to Bristow
that he at least has the courtesy to let the STD
campaigners and particularly councilors be recohnised
and given a chance to see what if any influence
impact they may have to this campaign both locally
and nationally .I think it is very contemptuous
of Bristow to denounce these councilors as this
is some thing I find quite insulting to myself and
many others who voted for and have continued to
support them .
I feel that even at this
very early stage the elected representation is having
an impact and this is fantastic ..
I would suggest anyone who
has concerns about the STD group's actions or motives
can address this by going to their councilors surgery
or attending their frequently held open and public
meetings which coincidentally are well attended;
this the great thing about having a democracy where
you will be listened to and acknowledge just who
do the public want to believe Dr Ashok Jacob esteemed
heart specialist and Dr Margaret Cook very proficient
,professional and caring people with a real empathy
and commitment to St Johns or labour politicians
who continue to try and undermine all the effort
and hard and productive work being put into this
campaign ..
let the people decide I know
who I believe .....
Billy
Bowes (of no political persuasion), West Lothian
Re:
press release 13th June 2007
Posted
13th June 2007:
Exceptionally well done.
You all should be proud of yourselves; you have
worked hard for all of the people of West Lothian,
keep up the good work!
D C
Posted
3rd June 2007:
SDC
Your updated site is looking fantastic, it is full
of hope, together with inspiration and dedication.
It is great to see that the fight goes on and that
already you are moving ahead with plans and a strategy
to secure St John's for the future.
This
should surely show all those who stated that there
was no point to campaigning as "it wouldn't
change anything", that there is a point, it
has changed everything and that a community standing
together and fighting side by side are a powerful
force, together they can achieve their goals.
I hope that ALL of the supporters, the hospital
staff and the people of WL will be galvanised even
more now and will continue to stand shoulder to
shoulder with the campaign until your ultimate goals
are attained.
Good
luck.
WJM
Posted
30th May 2007:
Dear
Fellow Campaigner
I would Like to invite you to the next PUSH (People
United Saving Hospitals) meeting on Saturday 9th
June. Please feel free to contact me for further
information.
Vanessa
Gee - vanesgee@googlemail.com
National
Meeting
Saturday 9th June 2007
Coventry
Motor Museum
Millennium Place, Hales Street,Coventry.CV1 1PN
12noon to 15.30 all welcome
website
- www.pushnhs.org.uk
Posted
16th May 2007: I
had the privilege of meeting with a lady yesterday
at West Lothian House. She had arranged to hand
me personally a petition for the abolition of car
parking charges at St. John’s Hospital. I
salute her on her efforts and endeavours to canvas
so many people on our behalf, and gain so many signatures
from her area. I also envy her stamina and energy
to further our aims and objectives in support of
our campaign. Well done BP (you know who you are).
Please
keep up the good work – with your help and
support we can, as the song goes “Overcome
them” and lets rid ourselves of this immoral
tax on the sick.
John
Cochrane
Councillor,
Action to Save St. Johns Hospital.
Posted
16th May 2007:
In
response to The recent comments by Tommy Davidson
saying that "they [Action to save St. John's
Hospital Councillors] jumped into bed with Peter
Johnston " and calling into question their
"independence".
The
hospital campaign has no political or party agenda
as anyone who goes to the frequent open and public
meetings will confirm.
The
facts are that they will work with whoever supports
them in their efforts to provide key and essential
local services.
It
is most unfortunate that this can not be forthcoming
from all parties as if this was the case I am sure
Mr Davidson would express a different viewpoint.
I
think it is fair and reasonable to suggest that
if the hospital campaign is not supported - and
when I say supported by concentrating on the real
issues affecting people and not political spin -
then the campaign group will not be slow in letting
whatever group know where they stand.
I
think it is sad that this campaign has not had more
cross party support as it is an issue or issues
which affects everyone in our community and that
in itself should be far, far more important than
trying to score cheap political points.
I,
like Tommy Davidson, am a bit surprised that "Provost"
Kerr has shown allegiance to S.N.P given their respective
manifestos but then again I suppose that is one
thing about living in a democracy.
I
would ask Tommy Davidson to come along to any of
the SDC meetings as it is an open and public meeting
and all views will be made welcome.
I
would suggest that political allegiance has no place
in the hospital campaign but support has and there
is a big difference.
The
only thing that matters is people and their needs
and opinions.
BB
Posted
14th May 2007:
YAHOOOOOO
!!!!
Wonderful.
It is indeed a novel feeling that council policy
is perhaps going to reflect the wishes of the public
for a change.
Furthermore,
I was delighted to read on the cover of this week’s
WL Herald & Post that our 3 councillors may
hold the balance of power in the council. Way to
go !!
Congratulations
everyone !!!!
And
special thanks to the SDC team who have been, and
continue to be, critical to the ongoing campaign
to save St John’s Hospital. You do a far greater
service to West Lothian through this campaign than
the career councillors and politicians.
Thank
you and I look forward to seeing you all at the
next meeting.
Regards
LM
Posted
12th May 2007:
THANK
YOU to the people who had the imagination and drive
to get this campaign on the road.
That
it has been successful to the level that we have
3 representatives on the council who have the good
of St John's as their priority is just great.
Congratulations
to all involved and very many thanks once again.
V
Posted
12th May 2007:
Congratulations
to all of you and a good decision taken.
Best
wishes for your term of office.
HM
Posted
10th May 2007:
Today,
I attended my first Council meeting; I attended
with feelings of trepidation, nervousness and overwhelming
panic. However my colleagues and I were made to
feel welcome by the majority of those we met.
By
now you will have read in the newspapers of our
decision to align with the SNP to form a working
administration. Our decision was not taken lightly;
we have spent the last 5 or so days intensively
debating with both SLP and the SNP where we could
have a meeting of minds on the major policies of
health within our community. At the forefront of
our minds has been our commitment to you and how
best to highlight our communal cause. We felt a
partnership alignment with the SNP would provide
to us with a voice to raise issues of concern on
healthcare. We have never been given this opportunity
under the previous administration. We also identified
shared common goals and aspirations with our SNP
partners on current and future healthcare issues
within West Lothian.
In
partnership we believe that the road to the restoration
of services already transferred to Edinburgh can
be reversed and that an immediate halt to any further
service transfer can be instigated.
We
jointly believe healthcare services should be local
and that locally elected representatives should
be held to account for any decisions taken on matters
of healthcare provision. Together, I am assured
we will do our very best to return St. Johns Hospital
at Howden to a fully fledged District General Hospital.
We
intend to act responsibly, serving as best we can
your interests and addressing your concerns. With
our partners we will provide unity over the next
few years. However on matters which do NOT affect
health in the community we will remain INDEPENDENT
and share our views with both the SNP and SLP in
the hope our considerations are taken on board.
We
your representatives look forward to your continued
support. If you as either a member of the public
or a NHS staff member have concerns which you feel
strongly about, please do not hesitate to contact
Ellen, Gordon or myself, your concerns will be kept
confidential and anonymity preserved.
Kind
regards,
John
Cochrane
Councillor,
Action to save St. John's Hospital
Posted
9th May 2007:
Dear
All,
In reply to E.W' letter 1st May - the rumours are
true you still can phone the hospital's number at
night but the calls will be diverted to Edinburgh.
I
do not think that system will be of any help to
any of our patients needing help or families wanting
information.
I
hope our new SDC councillors will be able to put
a stop to that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted
9th May 2007:
Congratulations
to the successful candidates but it does not take
me to point out that so far nothing at all has actually
been achieved in stopping the downgrade of the hospital
- in that, rather than a change of government, you
have my best wishes, but I think you all now carry
a distinct responsibilty, along with Angela Constance,
to ensure that the real aim of securing the future
of St Johns as an acute hospital is achieved.
Best
Wishes
S
H
Posted
6th May 2007:
Hearty
congratulations for all your efforts and on this
great success.
We
both promised our votes and voted accordingly.
Well Done!
J
and J
Posted
6th May 2007:
WE
HAVE MADE HISTORY
Last
weeks headlines in the West Lothian Courier told
us “it’s make your mind up time at the
polls” and YOU did – three Action to
Save St. John’s Hospital candidates were elected.
As one of those elected I would like to thank you
all for the help and support you have given to us
over the course of the last few months. Some of
you I have phoned direct, others who I have been
unable to contact – for all of you “Thank
you” and I have no doubt we will meet again
at the Kaim Park on 24th May.
The
Campaign was short; the outcome has made political
history and will have long term outcomes.
The
Campaign will continue until we achieve our aims
and objectives to reduce any further services at
St. Johns and the restoration of the services already
transferred to Edinburgh.
The
Campaign still needs your support and effort to
highlight the unsuitable levels of healthcare provided
to the West Lothian community. We hope, with your
help to continue to focus on healthcare issues.
Mary
Mulligan, who narrowly held the Linlithgow seat,
has stated in the “Evening News” –
“The hospital campaigners should be ashamed.
They’ve run down St. Johns”.
I
personally am not ashamed. I am proud of the help
and support of the people of West Lothian who have
supported the Campaign. Could there be a sense of
“sour grapes” on the part of Ms. Mulligan
who with her colleagues, were unable to read the
writing on the wall or sense the swell of public
opinion against the downgrade of our local hospital?
I
mentioned the West Lothian Courier; this is our
local newspaper which did not support us in any
way during the campaign.
Please
continue with your support through the www.stopthedowngrade.org
website and by attending our meetings. Again, many
thanks for your help.
John
Cochrane
Councillor
Posted
5th May 2007:
It
is with great delight I congratulate the three SDC
candidates on their election to the Council.
It is also with great delight I heard of the election
of Angela Constance to Holyrood -
at last there will be voice which will be heard
both locally and nationally.
I
commiserate with our other candidates and also appreciate
the hard work which has gone into this campaign
and has reaped outstanding success. One must however
not be complacent as I have been quite astonished
by the hostility and some of the accusations and
statements made by politicians and others.
I
also have no doubt that this campaign has had a
major influence and it proves that people do matter
and that people and care are far more important
than politics and spin.
Democracy is alive and well and let us keep the
same for St Johns.
Congratulations
to you all.
BB
Posted
5th May 2007:
Congratulations
on your success & on your fight.
MR
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