Letter: Health care for our communities
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Your support makes all the difference.Sir: The "patient-focus" care you wish to see (leading article, 23 May) has always been the basis of care in community hospitals. This sector has been overlooked by all governments, and at the moment there is a proposal to close 14 community hospitals in Powys.
It is an opportune time for the new government to look closely at this sector. Community hospitals are an inherent part of primary care and should be incorporated in the primary care sector immediately. Ninety-five per cent of all NHS health care is carried out in the primary care/community hospital sector. For far too long community hospitals have been within the secondary care sector and at the end of the queue for financial investment, but at the front when it comes to reduction of services.
Had Mr Caines's father been in the Whitby area, all his care would have been done in one place, local to his home, co-ordinated by his GP. We are extremely lucky to have this facility here. But the higher echelons of NHS management do not seem to understand its nature.
Let us have a radical rethink and bring the community hospitals, finance, management and future development into a primary care Locality Commissioning Unit where it belongs. Such a unit could hold the financial allocation for the whole area - GPs, community hospitals and some other services - and manage it for the benefit of its community. The patients would love to see this happen, and would reciprocate by expanding their already substantial voluntary contributions to this sector.
The community hospitals are a much-loved part of the NHS, appreciated by all who either use or work in them. Many managers in industry would give their right arm to have such an enthusiastic and dedicated workforce.
Dr ALAN BRIGHOUSE
Co-ordinating Manager
Whitby and District Health Forum
Whitby, North Yorkshire
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