The fight to SAVE Yeovil Hospital's Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) from CLOSURE has now gone to the Secretary of State. Quicksilver Community Group has formally requested the Health & Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins MP, to "call-in and review" the decision to shutdown Yeovil's HASU. The close decision by NHS Somerset in January this year, has gone down very badly with patient groups, NHS staff and stroke survivors and their families.
About 100 people turned out to the Westlands Entertainment Venue, yesterday (Friday 1 March), where NHS Somerset were hoping to convince the public that they can look forward to "improved stroke treatment services", once the proposed changes take effect.
As it was, NHS Somerset got a very bumpy reception at their meeting The estimated 100 people who attended, weren't buying it. Making their feelings about the planned HASU closure at Yeovil very clear. But NHS Somerset stuck to their guns. Unless the Secretary of State intervenes to call in the plans, NHS Somerset intend to proceed with their one HASU model for Somerset (at Musgrove Park hospital in Taunton), and closing the Yeovil HASU. But keeping the Acute Stroke Unit (for ongoing care beyond the first 72 hours emergency treatment.
WHAT YOU CAN STILL DO NOW...
Keeping SHARING THIS PETITION.
COME to the next Somerset ICB meeting in Yeovil on 28 March. Here's link to agenda and board papers from last meeting. https://nhssomerset.nhs.uk/publications/board-papers/
WRITE to the Secretary of State, using the new legislation that took effect 31 January this year, via this online submission form. Even if you don't feel able to complete all sections, tell Victoria Atkins MP, why KEEPING the YEOVIL HASU OPEN matters to YOU.
Reconfiguring NHS services - ministerial intervention powers
www.gov.uk
A HUGE THANK YOU for your support.