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Liberal Democrats on Kent County CouncilThe Official Opposition on Kent County Council |
Letter to the Editor, Kent Messenger
June 21, 2005 9:48 AM
I was most concerned when I read both report and Comment in the Kent Messenger,on the possibility of re- review of Orthopaedic Trauma services at Maidstone Hospital.
As former Chairman of Maidstone and Malling CHC and a present member of KCC NHS O.&S. Committee I feel it inappropriate that the P. P.I.F. representatives should now decide that trauma should perhaps be centralised at Pembury at some later date.
After an extensive, objective, review of the proposed arrangements,and many hours of gathering evidence, the Joint KCC and East Sussex NHS Overview and Scrutiny Committee supported the proposal of a trauma centre at both Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone.
This arrangement would serve both communities equally, and serve the needs of the wider health economy which serves part of East Sussex as well as Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone.
What concerned me most was that the Patient and Public Involvement Forum had representation on the joint select committee and had supported the findings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Asking for a rethink undermines the, recommendations and hard work of the joint select committee, and discredits the consultation process. All parties had accepted compromise for the greater good.This request for rethink could undermine that decision and give the Hospital Trust an excuse to faze out trauma at Maidstone.Shame on PPIF!
Geoff Rowe,
KCC Lib Dem Member for Malling Rural North East