Have Your Say – Healthcare Consultation
Consultation findings support calls to bring back blood tests to Deal Hospital
A community consultation led by Natalie Elphicke MP working together with Deal County and District Councillor Trevor Bond, Deal Town Councillor Tony Grist and health campaigners has found residents resoundingly backing calls for blood tests to return to Deal Hospital.
Deal Hospital Bloods Action Team have been campaigning for blood tests to return to Deal Hospital. The report on the findings of the community consultation in which over 3,200 residents took part highlight the strength of community support for this to happen.
The key findings included:
- 95% thought that the community should have been consulted before changes were made to blood test services
- 97% want to see blood testing carried out at Deal Hospital
- 72% of service users said that following the changes the service was not working well for them or their family
- 97% of service users who were required to travel outside Deal & Walmer for a blood test said this
was not what they wanted to do - many residents reported problems with making bookings and delays following the blood testing
service changes. - many residents reported that problems accessing blood test services had caused them stress and
meant they were not following medical advice or had experienced delays in receiving or changing
medication - the impact was reported to be particularly affecting those with cancer, diabetes and long-term
health conditions, as well as older, less mobile and poorer residents, who were less able to travel to
get blood tests out of the area.
Responding to the findings:
Natalie Elphicke MP said: “The new GP only blood test arrangements are failing older people, less mobile and poorer people in our community. Serious and life impacting illnesses like cancer and diabetes are not being properly catered for locally. It is shocking. Improvements in local healthcare need to be made immediately. The NHS bosses and local GPs need to tell us what they are going to do about it, including putting needed local services back in Deal Hospital.”
Kent County Council and Dover District Council Cllr Trevor Bond said: “The results of the consultation are clear. Residents want to see blood testing sorted out and Deal Hospital used fully. The current service is not working at all for residents and is not what they want. They also want to see other services, such as eye clinics, restored.
“With the Clinical Commissioning Group considering this matter at their May meeting, I hope they will consider carefully what we have been saying as the Deal Hospital Bloods Action Team with the consultation findings and carry out a review so that we can see blood tests locally provided and other services expanded at Deal Hospital too.”
Deal Town Council Cllr Tony Grist said: “Our petition on Deal Hospital secured thousands of signatures which means that the CCG are required to consider the blood tests issue in May. Now we have the consultation evidence to back up the passion in the petition. They must now take action and reverse their decision on Deal Hospital.”
Deal Health campaigner Marsha Horne said: “It was a young cancer patient who broke the news about the closure of blood services at Deal Hospital and his story was my inspiration to begin the fight for the restoration of these blood tests services in the first place. My posts on Social Media about the closure, which was done without any discussion with the community and without notice, generated countless stories from people in our community about how it has affected them, their family or their friends. Those stories made me even more determined to see this situation rectified. I am deeply saddened and angry to see the impact this change of services is having on so many people who desperately need easy-to-access, timely blood testing services. I sincerely hope that we will now see this poorly considered decision reversed and the services reinstated at our much-loved community hospital.”
Deal Health campaigner Anne Matthews said: “It is not simply blood tests. Deal Hospital should be the provider of a full-suite of local diagnostic services in line with the NHS Richards Review. We need to see the blood test services restored to Deal Hospital along with other services so that the hospital is serving the local community fully. That’s not happening at the moment and it’s not good enough.”
A community consultation led by Natalie Elphicke MP working together with Deal County and District Councillor Trevor Bond, Deal Town Councillor Tony Grist and health campaigners has found residents resoundingly backing calls for blood tests to return to Deal Hospital.
Deal Hospital Bloods Action Team have been campaigning for blood tests to return to Deal Hospital. The report on the findings of the community consultation in which over 3,200 residents took part highlight the strength of community support for this to happen.
The key findings included:
- 95% thought that the community should have been consulted before changes were made to blood test services
- 97% want to see blood testing carried out at Deal Hospital
- 72% of service users said that following the changes the service was not working well for them or their family
- 97% of service users who were required to travel outside Deal & Walmer for a blood test said this
was not what they wanted to do - many residents reported problems with making bookings and delays following the blood testing
service changes. - many residents reported that problems accessing blood test services had caused them stress and
meant they were not following medical advice or had experienced delays in receiving or changing
medication - the impact was reported to be particularly affecting those with cancer, diabetes and long-term
health conditions, as well as older, less mobile and poorer residents, who were less able to travel to
get blood tests out of the area.
Responding to the findings:
Natalie Elphicke MP said: “The new GP only blood test arrangements are failing older people, less mobile and poorer people in our community. Serious and life impacting illnesses like cancer and diabetes are not being properly catered for locally. It is shocking. Improvements in local healthcare need to be made immediately. The NHS bosses and local GPs need to tell us what they are going to do about it, including putting needed local services back in Deal Hospital.”
Kent County Council and Dover District Council Cllr Trevor Bond said: “The results of the consultation are clear. Residents want to see blood testing sorted out and Deal Hospital used fully. The current service is not working at all for residents and is not what they want. They also want to see other services, such as eye clinics, restored.
“With the Clinical Commissioning Group considering this matter at their May meeting, I hope they will consider carefully what we have been saying as the Deal Hospital Bloods Action Team with the consultation findings and carry out a review so that we can see blood tests locally provided and other services expanded at Deal Hospital too.”
Deal Town Council Cllr Tony Grist said: “Our petition on Deal Hospital secured thousands of signatures which means that the CCG are required to consider the blood tests issue in May. Now we have the consultation evidence to back up the passion in the petition. They must now take action and reverse their decision on Deal Hospital.”
Deal Health campaigner Marsha Horne said: “It was a young cancer patient who broke the news about the closure of blood services at Deal Hospital and his story was my inspiration to begin the fight for the restoration of these blood tests services in the first place. My posts on Social Media about the closure, which was done without any discussion with the community and without notice, generated countless stories from people in our community about how it has affected them, their family or their friends. Those stories made me even more determined to see this situation rectified. I am deeply saddened and angry to see the impact this change of services is having on so many people who desperately need easy-to-access, timely blood testing services. I sincerely hope that we will now see this poorly considered decision reversed and the services reinstated at our much-loved community hospital.”
Deal Health campaigner Anne Matthews said: “It is not simply blood tests. Deal Hospital should be the provider of a full-suite of local diagnostic services in line with the NHS Richards Review. We need to see the blood test services restored to Deal Hospital along with other services so that the hospital is serving the local community fully. That’s not happening at the moment and it’s not good enough.”
Cllr Tony Grist, Anne Matthews, Natalie Elphicke MP, Marsha Horne & Cllr Trevor Bond
The Consultation is now closed
Thank you to everyone who has completed it online or sent back a form. They are all being collated and entered to provide the final results. Further details of these results will be published soon.
Have Your Say – Healthcare Consultation
Cllr Tony Grist, Anne Matthews, Natalie Elphicke MP, Marsha Horne & Cllr Trevor Bond
At the end of the October last year, blood test (phlebotomy) services which had been provided at Deal Hospital were transferred to GP surgeries. This happened without a public consultation and the changes have caused considerable upset and concern.
I am therefore carrying out a public consultation in order to better understand how the change in service is working, as well as providing an opportunity for feedback on healthcare provision being provided locally.
I would like to place on record my particular thanks to Deal’s local health campaigners Marsha Horne and Anne Matthews together with town, district and county councillors of all political parties, in particular Cllrs Trevor Bond and Tony Grist, who have been so energetic in raising the concerns of our community and working to have the blood test services reinstated at Deal Hospital.
The consultation is being launched on Friday 25th February 2022 at 6:15pm at the entrance to Deal Pier. It is a Candlelight Vigil and residents wanting to join in the Vigil should bring their own torch or phone to light up.
Please do come and show your support for our community hospital and the services provided there.
Our healthcare professionals do a wonderful job. It is important that they have the support from all of us to deliver the care that is wanted and needed for our area and that residents have the opportunity to have their say about local healthcare.
10 Ways to Support a Loved One with Dementia
Get a Diagnosis
A study by the Alzheimer’s Society found that 9 in 10 people saw at least one benefit in receiving a diagnosis. The most common of these is the ability to plan for the future. A diagnosis takes the form of seeing ones GP who will ask questions about everyday task and if other causes are ruled out, then seeing a specialist in Dementia research.
Learn About Dementia
Over 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 and 1 in 6 people over the age of 80 have Dementia in the UK. Learning about the disease can allow you to track symptoms that you see in your loved one and track its progress, allowing you to make informed decisions on what action to take.
Register as a Carer
Even if you are looking after a loved one and don’t view yourself as a carer, registering with your GP can allow yourself and your loved one to access more support. Applying for a carers assessment can help manage both of your needs. You can also look into training courses and check if you are eligible for carers benefits.
Maintain a Familiar Setting
One of the greatest benefits of living at home for people with Dementia is that their home environment can make people feel safer and more comfortable. Maintaining a familiar setting can also help with memory retention. Some people with Dementia are reluctant to get a diagnosis as they worry that familiarity will be lost.
Dementia Infrastructure at Home
To continue to live an independent life, people with Dementia may need to adapt their home environment accordingly. This may mean adding grips and pulleys for mobility support or adding items that will help them remember important things. Memory items can be whiteboards or dosette boxes for medication.
Technological Advancements
Advancements in technology can help people with Dementia live at home. Automatic shut-off devices can stop gas supplies/turn off cookers if they have been left on. As well as this there are technological flood detectors, lights that automatically come on and telephone blockers to prevent scam calls.
Help with Eating and Drinking
People with dementia may not drink or eat enough without realising. Prioritising mealtime will be important in preventing adverse health effects such as headaches and constipation, which can lead to a further Dementia symptoms such as confusion.
Help with Incontinence
People with Dementia may experience problems going to the toilet. The NHS advises being understanding about these issues, trying to retain a sense of humour, and remembering it is not their fault. Similarly, to eating and drinking, maintaining a routine is of high importance.
Help with Incontinence
People with Dementia may experience problems going to the toilet. The NHS advises being understanding about these issues, trying to retain a sense of humour, and remembering it is not their fault. Similarly, to eating and drinking, maintaining a routine is of high importance.
Look after Yourself
Caring for a loved one with Dementia can take a psychological toll. There are many charities such as Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society and Carers UK who can help support you through this difficult process.
Harmonia Village
Dementia is an important issue to our local community. According to Alzheimer’s Society, approximately 23,940 people live with Dementia in Kent. It is predicted that by 2030, 33,400 people will be living with Dementia in Kent. Currently in Dover only 56.5% of people living with Dementia have a medical diagnosis. Dementia does not only affect elderly people and currently over 42,000 people under 65 have early onset Dementia.
Someone who is worried about dementia should see their GP in the first instance who will ask questions about managing everyday tasks, as well as physical tests (such as phlebotomy and urine) and memory tests. The GP can determine if the symptoms are from other causes. If these are ruled out, they will be referred to a dementia diagnosis specialise such as an old-age psychiatrist, a geriatrician, or a neurologist. These specialists will then organise more memory tests and potentially a CT/MRI scan.
The Harmonia Village is a unique development that has regenerated redundant hospital properties, on the site to the rear of the Buckland Hospital, to create a bespoke new nursing village for people living with dementia. Harmonia Village is ground-breaking because it was the first of its kind in the UK and it is a £2.5 million project.
Homes:
Harmonia consists of six houses that look and feel like everyday homes, with the added peace of mind of round the clock care provided by our dedicated on-site team.
Each house has five spacious bedrooms, two ground floor and three first floor which can be accessed by stairs and a wheel-chair accessible lift.
The bedrooms include an adjustable single bed and en-suite toilet and basin. There are two large accessible shower rooms per house, one on each floor.
The shared lounge and dining areas are the heart of each home, where people can spend time together and welcome visitors, and have doors leading to a patio garden.
Residents are welcome to make their own food and drinks in the kitchen or can choose from the daily menu provided by the village chef.
Activities:
Village hub is a welcoming community for both residents and visitors, with an exciting programme of daily activities for people to choose from and a café serving home-made food.
Whether you are visiting a loved one or would like to get to know the village better, people can stay in one of the guest rooms.
People can access facilities and activities in the village as well as the local sights in and around Dover. There are no special requirements to book.
Volunteer:
People can sign up to volunteer here: https://www.harmoniavillage.org.uk/join-our-team/