ST
JOHN’S - WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
Without
an increase in the population served by the hospital
(its ‘catchment ‘area) it will be
difficult for St John’s to justify retaining
acute services in the long term. This is partly
due to the reduction in junior doctors’
hours, which will take place in August 2009. Health
Boards across Scotland will be forced to concentrate
acute services on fewer hospital sites.
Despite a promise made in the autumn of 2004,
Lothian Health has failed to deliver an increase
in catchment size (‘rezoning’) for
St John’s. No surprises there, as they also
failed to keep their written promise to consult
the public prior to withdrawal of surgery and
trauma orthopaedics.
Moreover,
the Health Board is withdrawing services from
St John’s which would be required to cope
with an increased catchment area. And finally,
Lothian Health is already in discussion with Forth
Valley Health Board as to which West Lothian patients
can be moved to the new PFI hospital at Larbert
which is scheduled to open…..….in
2009!!
If
there is no increase in the catchment area then
which acute services might disappear for ever?
INTENSIVE
CARE UNIT (ITU)
CORONARY CARE UNIT (CCU)
MEDICAL UNIT
OBSTETRICS
MATERNITY
CHILDREN’S WARD
ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY
The
May 3rd election is the last chance for the people
of West Lothian, acting together and putting aside
any traditional party loyalties, to save their
hospital. If we fail, then we will lose all acute
services and be left with the best 9 to 5 daycase
unit in the country!
The
St John’s which we were bequeathed by the
war generation (born from Bangour) will cease
to exist as we know it. All emergency patients
in West Lothian will be transported to Edinburgh
or Larbert.
However, an Independent Hospital MSP for Livingston
and Independent Hospital Councillors will fight
to retain all acute services, enhance the catchment
area and return services which have been lost.
They will also press for car parking charges (the
tax on the sick) to be frozen and then withdrawn.
ST.
JOHN’S NEEDS YOU
