Following NHS Somerset’s recent admission that they would not proceed with the closure of the Acute Stroke Care at YDH (wonder how much it cost to get to that reasoning?). On Thursday (7 Dec) they were back at Taunton to discuss their continuing proposal for the removal of YDH HASU through a combination of utilising Dorset County Hospital and Musgrove, with Somerset Council’s Scrutiny Committee.
The Committee were unanimously opposed to this proposal stating multiple reasons why this was not feasible, all of which have been documented by this group over the past 6 months. The outcome of which was a vote by the Scrutiny Committee to be sent to Somerset Council's Executive Committee highlighting their opposition to this proposal by NHS Somerset.
Unfortunately neither the Scrutiny Committee nor the Executive Committee have any formal say on whether this proposal goes ahead. The only input Somerset Council have is through the ICB (Integrated Care Board). So please keep opposing this proposal via signing and sharing QCG's petition:
Interesting development at Yeovil Town Council on Tuesday (5 Dec) when one of our team went to request that Yeovil Town Council support QCG by asking NHS Somerset for a formal public meeting. The Council members refused to be drawn on this. However, Cllr Graham Oakes made a statement in which he highlighted that he had been running a campaign to fight the closure of the HASU. This seems to be a silent protest as we can find nothing on his social media (which is very unusual for a very vocal political figure).
Just two days after Yeovil Town Council met, Cllr Oakes chaired the Scrutiny Committee in Taunton (mentioned above). Here, he gave an excoriating denunciation of the NHS Somerset plans to strip Yeovil Hospital of its HASU. Given the support of over 7,000 residents of this area, Cllr Graham Oakes clearly knows very well the power of working together with the people of Yeovil, to oppose attempts to cut our Stroke Care services.
We would suggest that everyone takes a look at the recording from this session which seriously highlights the level of opposition to this proposal, not just from QCG or the public but also from our elected representatives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbM2bqP9RUI
The Stroke services discussion starts at 2:00 hours in.
Quicksilver Community Group wishes all members and supporters a happy and peaceful Christmas.