Yeovil HASU call-in rejected - Quicksilver Community Group response

"Gutted. After months of waiting for a response from Wes Streeting's office, Quicksilver Community Group is very disappointed at Wes Streeting's decision not to officially call-in (review) NHS Somerset's planned closure of Yeovil Hospital's Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU). The Health Secretary has done a Pontius Pilate, washing his hands and won't get involved.

"It now rests with community campaigners, including Quicksilver Community Group; patient groups; local councils and our MPs to take the baton and fight on. Our own Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, has been rightly vocal in parliament, and behind the scenes, too, in pushing
 for NHS Somerset ICB to think again about their plan to close Yeovil's emergency stroke unit.

QCG are still assessing DHSC's response letter. It contains several errors and omissions, which we believe have a material bearing on NHS Somerset's decision to close the Yeovil emergency stroke unit. 

"Dr Khalid Rashed MBE, Somerset's longest serving consultant stroke physician, has previously stated closing the Yeovil HASU would be "catastrophic" for patient outcomes, and have a serious adverse impact on the wider social care system in Yeovil and surrounding
 area. Dr Rashed has urged the ICB to "be brave" and to heed the warnings of what will happen if the HASU closes, and emergency stroke patients are taken instead to Dorchester, Taunton, Salisbury and Bath.

QCG's petition now tops 11,300 signatures: 
https://www.change.org/p/save-yeovil-s-acute-stroke-care-services

Quicksilver Community Group are planning a HANDS OFF OUR HASU VIGIL outside YDH, Friday 24 January, from 10am. Please come along and support this cause.

Please do get in touch for further any further information. 

Best regards,

Ray Tostevin
(Chair, Quicksilver Community Group)