I’ve just come from a SavetheDGH campaign meeting where we met the new Chairman of the Trust, David Clayton-Jones. And yesterday the team had their first meeting with the new Trust CEO Dr Adrian Bull. I couldn’t make that one unfortunately (I’ve another job these days!) but the reports are good. Liz Walke and the campaign team will be putting out a joint statement with the Trust in a few days, so watch this space.—Stephen Lloyd, 16 April 2016
This morning’s discussion with the new Trust Chair went well
All of us want what is best for Eastbourne (and the surrounding area) and I think it is fair to say (a) the new leadership team are certainly approaching us and the challenges faced by our hospital and NHS community in a far more positive way than the old lot. (B) It’s obviously far too early to count our chickens but I wanted you all to know that we are starting well.
I hope and pray it will continue and those core services we lost will be returned in some shape or other, and the town gets what we all want: a first class hospital serving the ‘local’ needs of the community.
I specifically addressed 3 issues with the new man 1/ go that extra mile to work ‘with’ the staff. Show them just how much they’re valued. They’ve earned it by providing great quality care under the toughest of circumstances over the last few years. 2/ Transport links between us and the Conquest @ Hastings are uniquely awful and that MUST always be factored in with any clinical decision and 3/ Put pressure on the CCG’s (the NHS commissioning groups) to do something proactive about the shockingly poor service being provided by the new non-urgent patient transport provider.
Real people are suffering at the minute since SECAMB lost the contract which is simply unacceptable.
I’ll end on a positive note folks as that’s something we all so desperately want for our DGH and community NHS Services – and that is someone at the meeting said “now it’s fresh eyes looking and working together to make a positive difference”
I certainly hope so. Eastbourne deserves it.
Have a good weekend folks.
Stephen Lloyd is a British Liberal Democrat politician and business development consultant. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Eastbourne from 2010 to 2015 and was the Liberal Democrats’ spokesperson for Northern Ireland in the House of Commons.
Following his defeat on 7 May 2015 by Conservative candidate Caroline Ansell, he announced he would retire from politics. He said he “never had as much fun as being MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon”.
