Trusts are damaging OUR NHS service

There have been various reports in the press highlighting how Trusts are pouring NHS money down the drain. We can only wonder what effect the closure of the stroke unit at County hospital might have on stroke/post stroke victims in the future and what the financial devastation might be! Recent press reports state that "Staff concerned for patient safety due to A&E gridlock at Stoke and Stafford's hospitals" "Cambridgeshire's £800m NHS outsourcing contract wasted millions" "Huge hospital overspend to be revealed" These damning headlines appear to be as a result of decisions made by Trusts, presumably working with the intention of helping hospitals to operate more cost effectively for the benefit of all NHS workers and users. It seems that although the intentions of various Trusts' may be for the best, results displayed in a variety of press reports often prove that full consideration and complete scrutiny of planning, accounting and projected results are far from successful. This results in the future outcome of our NHS services suffering which is NOT appropriate or acceptable. It begs some question... How would closure of the stroke unit at County Hospital be cost effective? If post stroke patients are to receive rehabilitation in the home, how will costs be accounted? There are transport, travel, fuel, drivers, doctor, nurses, palliative care workers, time and end of life treatment/care costs to be considered. Can we be assured that UHNM would be able to cope with yet another influx of patients, presently treated at Stafford by remarkable and committed staff in a successful ward? If or when the process of Stafford's stroke care is altered, what would be the financial cost to put things right if/when yet another fantastic plan decided by a CCG proves to be foolish, expensive and costly to human lives in some way or other? Sadly, it could be presumed that many residents across Staffordshire are totally unaware that these changes and being discussed. The idea was even dismissed by a Parish Councillor who assured me the whole thing was 'just a rumour' which is very shocking and rather worrying! Perhaps if all residents in catchment areas to be affected by such drastic changes were made aware, there would be more objection to yet another much needed facility at Stafford County Hospital being removed/drastically changed. Please address the matter of any proposed changes to our stroke rehabilitation unit at Stafford's County Hospital in great depth Mr Lefroy.