Groups fighting plans to abandon coastal areas to the waves have resolved to work together to convince the government to drop the controversial proposals - reports the Eastern Daily Press.
Councillors from across Suffolk and Norfolk coastal areas and from all levels of local government met for a conference in Southwold today.
Also among more than 100 delegates were coastal pressure groups, Natural England, Suffolk Coastal MP John Gummer and Euro MP Geoffrey Van Orden.
They were united in wanting to stop the Environment Agency's policy of “managed retreat”, or letting nature take its course as sea levels rise and coastal erosion continues.
The conference focused on the Blyth estuary, one of the areas which will be most affected by the policy, but also heard of concerns elsewhere on the Suffolk coast and in Norfolk.
Delegates decided that co-operation and communication were the key to persuading government to drop the plans and instead invest in flood defences.
Showing posts with label norfolk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label norfolk. Show all posts
Saturday, 14 June 2008
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Norfolk: Fire chief warns of flood threat
A senior fire office last night issued a stark warning that a repeat of the 1953 floods - which killed 100 in Norfolk - would have a more devastating impact today because of a lack of specialist crews - reports the Eastern Daily Press.
East Anglia has been identified as one of the least protected areas of the country in a report which reveals a national shortage of firefighters trained in flood rescues.
Paul Hayden, who coordinates flood rescues for the Chief Fire Officers' Association and is the former deputy chief fire officer for Norfolk, called for additional training and equipment so more firefighters can respond to major flooding disasters.
East Anglia has been identified as one of the least protected areas of the country in a report which reveals a national shortage of firefighters trained in flood rescues.
Paul Hayden, who coordinates flood rescues for the Chief Fire Officers' Association and is the former deputy chief fire officer for Norfolk, called for additional training and equipment so more firefighters can respond to major flooding disasters.
Monday, 9 June 2008
Youngsters wait longer for dental care
Young people in Norfolk and Suffolk are being forced to wait up to four years for orthodontic appointments, despite more than £5m being pumped into the region's NHS dental services - reports the Eastern Daily Press.
However, the sum is equivalent to only 8 hours of cash the government pays to the audit-failing European Union every year - even taking into account grants and subisides Britain receives back. And only about a fifth of the money will be spent on tackling the severe shortage of orthodontists.
Meanwhile, the average wait for orthodontic care in the Yarmouth and Waveney Primary Care Trust (PCT) area now tops three and a half years, with patients in Suffolk and Norfolk waiting two and a half year before an appointment.
Last month, NHS Norfolk announced that it would invest £2.8m in the county's NHS dentistry services to tackle shortages in towns including Dereham and North Walsham, but only £720,000 will be spent on improving access to orthodontic treatment.
Although the extra funding should allow about 600 more cases to be dealt with each year by employing at least two more specialist orthodontists, it will take several years for the long waiting lists to be reduced.
Liberal Democrat shadow health secretary and North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb said: “Norfolk has some completely unacceptable waiting times and, as a parent whose children have both benefitted from orthodontic treatment, I sympathise with the problem.
“Parents are finding now that getting treatment for their children is much more difficult than it was just three or four years ago, the service has deteriorated that quickly. It is a serious issue.”
In the Yarmouth and Waveney area, the average waiting time is three and a half years - meaning that many patients are left waiting significantly longer than that before treatment.
With some youngsters being referred to orthodontists when they are 10 or 11, they could be in their late teens before the work to correct their teeth is complete.
Bob Purser, contracts manager for Yarmouth and Waveney PCT, said: “We acknowledge that there is currently an extended assessment waiting time for primary care specialist orthodontics treatment. A key priority for the PCT for the coming 12 months is to significantly reduce this waiting time.”
Suffolk PCT announced a £1.3m investment in its NHS dental services earlier this year, but only about £900,000 has been ring-fenced for orthodontic care.
NHS Norfolk is due to increase spending on dentistry by 13pc next year, totalling a £2.8m investment.
A spokesman for Suffolk PCT said: “We are aware that some of the waiting lists for orthodontic treatment are longer than we would like. Working with our orthodontists, we are identifying ways of improving access and reducing waiting times. In 07/08 the PCT invested an additional £230,000 precisely for this purpose.”
But these are drops in the ocean compared to the scale of cash central government is wasting on the audit-failing EU, and will make little impact reducing the long waiting lists.
The government must stop wasting so much money on an organisation that hasn't been able to get its accounts approved for 13 years running, and focus on continuing funding shortfalls within NHS Primary Care Trusts that are causing these poor service levels.
However, the sum is equivalent to only 8 hours of cash the government pays to the audit-failing European Union every year - even taking into account grants and subisides Britain receives back. And only about a fifth of the money will be spent on tackling the severe shortage of orthodontists.
Meanwhile, the average wait for orthodontic care in the Yarmouth and Waveney Primary Care Trust (PCT) area now tops three and a half years, with patients in Suffolk and Norfolk waiting two and a half year before an appointment.
Last month, NHS Norfolk announced that it would invest £2.8m in the county's NHS dentistry services to tackle shortages in towns including Dereham and North Walsham, but only £720,000 will be spent on improving access to orthodontic treatment.
Although the extra funding should allow about 600 more cases to be dealt with each year by employing at least two more specialist orthodontists, it will take several years for the long waiting lists to be reduced.
Liberal Democrat shadow health secretary and North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb said: “Norfolk has some completely unacceptable waiting times and, as a parent whose children have both benefitted from orthodontic treatment, I sympathise with the problem.
“Parents are finding now that getting treatment for their children is much more difficult than it was just three or four years ago, the service has deteriorated that quickly. It is a serious issue.”
In the Yarmouth and Waveney area, the average waiting time is three and a half years - meaning that many patients are left waiting significantly longer than that before treatment.
With some youngsters being referred to orthodontists when they are 10 or 11, they could be in their late teens before the work to correct their teeth is complete.
Bob Purser, contracts manager for Yarmouth and Waveney PCT, said: “We acknowledge that there is currently an extended assessment waiting time for primary care specialist orthodontics treatment. A key priority for the PCT for the coming 12 months is to significantly reduce this waiting time.”
Suffolk PCT announced a £1.3m investment in its NHS dental services earlier this year, but only about £900,000 has been ring-fenced for orthodontic care.
NHS Norfolk is due to increase spending on dentistry by 13pc next year, totalling a £2.8m investment.
A spokesman for Suffolk PCT said: “We are aware that some of the waiting lists for orthodontic treatment are longer than we would like. Working with our orthodontists, we are identifying ways of improving access and reducing waiting times. In 07/08 the PCT invested an additional £230,000 precisely for this purpose.”
But these are drops in the ocean compared to the scale of cash central government is wasting on the audit-failing EU, and will make little impact reducing the long waiting lists.
The government must stop wasting so much money on an organisation that hasn't been able to get its accounts approved for 13 years running, and focus on continuing funding shortfalls within NHS Primary Care Trusts that are causing these poor service levels.
Friday, 30 May 2008
Norfolk: Retired fireman loses battle for cancer drug
A retired fireman has suffered a setback in his battle to win funding for a cancer drug, reports the Eastern Daily Press.
Liver cancer patient Barry Humphrey has lost an appeal for a £5,000 trial for a drug aimed at buying him more time.
His upset wife Hazel says health bosses have “sentenced him to an early death” though their latest decision.
After 25 years service saving lives as a fireman in London, Mr Humphrey developed a rare cancer, triggered by hepatitis caught from a casualty during a rescue.
But officials at NHS Norfolk have decided not to fund treatment recommended by his consultant, saying Mr Humphrey's case fails to meet national cost-effectiveness guidelines on new drugs.
The couple, from Kimberley Road, are now seeing if there is anywhere else they can take their fight.
Funding the two-month trial treatment themselves was a last option - but they were reluctant having been told they would be opting out of the NHS, resulting in them having to pick up all treatment costs.
Fewer than 5% of liver cancer patients survive more than five years, so time is not on the Humphreys' side without some kind of treatment. And Barry says his consultants believe there are no other alternative drugs.
NHS Norfolk medical director Bryan Heap said treatment funding decisions were taken on clinical rather than social circumstances, so Mr Humphrey's past as an exemplary citizen unfortunately could not be taken into consideration.
The cost of Sorafenib, along with administration, extra scans and follow-up was £150,000 a year, and trials indicated an increase in life expectancy of 12 weeks, with no cure or reduction of symptoms.
Guidelines recommended not funding a new drug if the figure was greater than £30,000, he added.
North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrats health spokesman who has been backing Mr Humphrey's battle, said he was “horrified” by the appeal refusal, and would be seeking to meet a senior official from NHS Norfolk to argue the case.
Liver cancer patient Barry Humphrey has lost an appeal for a £5,000 trial for a drug aimed at buying him more time.
His upset wife Hazel says health bosses have “sentenced him to an early death” though their latest decision.
After 25 years service saving lives as a fireman in London, Mr Humphrey developed a rare cancer, triggered by hepatitis caught from a casualty during a rescue.
But officials at NHS Norfolk have decided not to fund treatment recommended by his consultant, saying Mr Humphrey's case fails to meet national cost-effectiveness guidelines on new drugs.
The couple, from Kimberley Road, are now seeing if there is anywhere else they can take their fight.
Funding the two-month trial treatment themselves was a last option - but they were reluctant having been told they would be opting out of the NHS, resulting in them having to pick up all treatment costs.
Fewer than 5% of liver cancer patients survive more than five years, so time is not on the Humphreys' side without some kind of treatment. And Barry says his consultants believe there are no other alternative drugs.
NHS Norfolk medical director Bryan Heap said treatment funding decisions were taken on clinical rather than social circumstances, so Mr Humphrey's past as an exemplary citizen unfortunately could not be taken into consideration.
The cost of Sorafenib, along with administration, extra scans and follow-up was £150,000 a year, and trials indicated an increase in life expectancy of 12 weeks, with no cure or reduction of symptoms.
Guidelines recommended not funding a new drug if the figure was greater than £30,000, he added.
North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrats health spokesman who has been backing Mr Humphrey's battle, said he was “horrified” by the appeal refusal, and would be seeking to meet a senior official from NHS Norfolk to argue the case.
Labels:
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NHS funding,
norfolk,
sorafenib
Thursday, 22 November 2007
Norfolk: Bed crisis sparks hospitals alert
Hospitals across the east of England have been placed on "black alert" as staff and wards are overwhelmed by high patient numbers - reports the BBC.
Non-urgent cases have been sent home after up to 10 ambulances were left queuing outside one hospital.
Few or no beds are free at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, and the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, both in Norfolk.
People with minor injuries have been urged not to attend A&E.
The alert status means plans designed to enable staff to cope with major incidents, such as terrorist attacks and train crashes, are put into action.
At the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), which announced it had reached the emergency status on Wednesday afternoon, managers worked with other agencies to discharge non-urgent patients from the 1,000-bed hospital to create space.
However, the hospital said that between 60 and 70 beds were still being blocked because patients who were medically fit to leave had no where to go.
Paramedics treated patients in ambulances outside the NNUH on Wednesday evening.
A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: "Most things we can manage - it only becomes critical to get someone out of the ambulance and into the hospital if someone is bleeding to death or in full cardiac arrest needing resuscitation.
"There were serious condition patients but they were being treated at the NNUH by hospital staff."
NNUH spokesman Andrew Stronach said there was no single incident that brought on the beds crisis.
"It's just general run of the mill problems, like chest pains, collapses, diarrhoea and vomiting."
The James Paget hospital and the Queen Elizabeth in Kings Lynn said there were sufficient beds, but a sudden change in the weather was putting extra pressure on them.
Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk, said the hospital was regularly well above the safe occupancy level of 85%.
He said: "If there was to be a flu epidemic this winter then we've got a major crisis.
"Across the country we're seeing occupancy rates increasing. There's also evidence that you run an increased risk of hospital acquired infections if you've got a hospital that's literally full.
"This is a serious problem and yet there appears to be nothing being done to increase the capacity to ensure that there's enough beds to treat patients."
Milton Keynes and Hertfordshire health officials have said they are not on alert, but Bedford Hospital has been on red alert since Friday.
In Suffolk, Ipswich Hospital said it had very few beds but was managing the situation and a spokesman for the West Suffolk Hospital said its alert had been caused by sickness bugs.
Norfolk MPs Norman Lamb and Henry Bellingham can fairly claim to be doing their best to ensure local hospital services have the facilities and resources they need to avoid situations like this developing - by opposing the payment of an extra £7bn to the audit-failing European Union.
However, Tony Wright MP for Great Yarmouth and Ian Gibson MP for Norwich North both voted on Monday to approve this unjustifiable extra multi-billion-pound spending on the wasteful EU, so can hardly claim to be doing their best for essential local services.
Local voters need only wait a likely 18 months for the next general election, to let them know what they think of such irresponsible decision-making.
Non-urgent cases have been sent home after up to 10 ambulances were left queuing outside one hospital.
Few or no beds are free at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, and the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, both in Norfolk.
People with minor injuries have been urged not to attend A&E.
The alert status means plans designed to enable staff to cope with major incidents, such as terrorist attacks and train crashes, are put into action.
At the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), which announced it had reached the emergency status on Wednesday afternoon, managers worked with other agencies to discharge non-urgent patients from the 1,000-bed hospital to create space.
However, the hospital said that between 60 and 70 beds were still being blocked because patients who were medically fit to leave had no where to go.
Paramedics treated patients in ambulances outside the NNUH on Wednesday evening.
A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: "Most things we can manage - it only becomes critical to get someone out of the ambulance and into the hospital if someone is bleeding to death or in full cardiac arrest needing resuscitation.
"There were serious condition patients but they were being treated at the NNUH by hospital staff."
NNUH spokesman Andrew Stronach said there was no single incident that brought on the beds crisis.
"It's just general run of the mill problems, like chest pains, collapses, diarrhoea and vomiting."
The James Paget hospital and the Queen Elizabeth in Kings Lynn said there were sufficient beds, but a sudden change in the weather was putting extra pressure on them.
Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk, said the hospital was regularly well above the safe occupancy level of 85%.
He said: "If there was to be a flu epidemic this winter then we've got a major crisis.
"Across the country we're seeing occupancy rates increasing. There's also evidence that you run an increased risk of hospital acquired infections if you've got a hospital that's literally full.
"This is a serious problem and yet there appears to be nothing being done to increase the capacity to ensure that there's enough beds to treat patients."
Milton Keynes and Hertfordshire health officials have said they are not on alert, but Bedford Hospital has been on red alert since Friday.
In Suffolk, Ipswich Hospital said it had very few beds but was managing the situation and a spokesman for the West Suffolk Hospital said its alert had been caused by sickness bugs.
Norfolk MPs Norman Lamb and Henry Bellingham can fairly claim to be doing their best to ensure local hospital services have the facilities and resources they need to avoid situations like this developing - by opposing the payment of an extra £7bn to the audit-failing European Union.
However, Tony Wright MP for Great Yarmouth and Ian Gibson MP for Norwich North both voted on Monday to approve this unjustifiable extra multi-billion-pound spending on the wasteful EU, so can hardly claim to be doing their best for essential local services.
Local voters need only wait a likely 18 months for the next general election, to let them know what they think of such irresponsible decision-making.
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Norfolk: Third of crimes not investigated
Police chiefs have defended their screening policy after it emerged that a third of crimes reported in Norfolk are not investigated by officers - reports the Eastern Daily Press.
Figures released by Norfolk Constabulary show thousands of crime reports get no further than civilian call-handlers, under the supervision of an officer, who are trained to decide whether or not an incident is serious or solvable enough to warrant further investigation.
Opponents of the policy claimed the figures proved the force was under-resourced and under too much pressure to chase government targets.
However, senior officers defended the system, saying it helped it to make the most of limited resources, and that no category of crime was risk-free for the culprits.
During 2006-07, 20,739 crimes were screened out from a total of 62,626 reported - a rate of 33%, which is just below the national average of 39%. Of those, 9,375 thefts and 8,819 cases of criminal damage were not investigated.
Other crimes not probed included burglaries, violent crimes and drug offences.
Det Supt Julian Gregory, of Norfolk police, said: "As with any public sector body we have a budget and finite resources and it is vitally important to target those resources to where we get the best benefit for the community. It is common sense."
Norwich North MP Ian Gibson said 33% seemed to be a very high number and called for an explanation.
"The police force needs to explain in more detail about why these crimes are not being investigated, because I think members of the public really need to know," he said.
Norman Brennan, chairman of the Victims of Crime Trust and a serving police officer, said: "The sad reality is that police numbers have not kept pace with the huge rise in crime across the spectrum.
"The public are our masters and have a right to know why we don't turn up to every call and investigate every crime."
Screened out offences are still counted in official crime figures, and victims are issued with reference numbers for insurance purposes.
Norfolk was one of 12 English and Scottish forces which released the figures under Freedom of Information laws. Suffolk Constabulary does not operate a screening policy.
Figures released by Norfolk Constabulary show thousands of crime reports get no further than civilian call-handlers, under the supervision of an officer, who are trained to decide whether or not an incident is serious or solvable enough to warrant further investigation.
Opponents of the policy claimed the figures proved the force was under-resourced and under too much pressure to chase government targets.
However, senior officers defended the system, saying it helped it to make the most of limited resources, and that no category of crime was risk-free for the culprits.
During 2006-07, 20,739 crimes were screened out from a total of 62,626 reported - a rate of 33%, which is just below the national average of 39%. Of those, 9,375 thefts and 8,819 cases of criminal damage were not investigated.
Other crimes not probed included burglaries, violent crimes and drug offences.
Det Supt Julian Gregory, of Norfolk police, said: "As with any public sector body we have a budget and finite resources and it is vitally important to target those resources to where we get the best benefit for the community. It is common sense."
Norwich North MP Ian Gibson said 33% seemed to be a very high number and called for an explanation.
"The police force needs to explain in more detail about why these crimes are not being investigated, because I think members of the public really need to know," he said.
Norman Brennan, chairman of the Victims of Crime Trust and a serving police officer, said: "The sad reality is that police numbers have not kept pace with the huge rise in crime across the spectrum.
"The public are our masters and have a right to know why we don't turn up to every call and investigate every crime."
Screened out offences are still counted in official crime figures, and victims are issued with reference numbers for insurance purposes.
Norfolk was one of 12 English and Scottish forces which released the figures under Freedom of Information laws. Suffolk Constabulary does not operate a screening policy.
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Norfolk: Warning over the cost of care
Old people face having to pay more for their care and some will miss out completely as Norfolk social services prepares to make millions of pounds of cuts - reports the Eastern Daily Press.
The department is trying to make £13m of savings from the adult social services budget next year alone, a figure which rises to £37m over the next three years.
It is part of what County Hall chiefs described as a “difficult” picture for all the council's services. Although the county council will not hear about its government funding settlement until next month, it is expecting to receive an extra £16m from Whitehall - but faces paying an extra £38.7m in inflation costs and to meet rising demand for services, leaving it to make £22.7m of savings next year.
Paul Brittain, the council's head of finance, said: “There are savings right across the board in adult services, children's services, planning and transport and so on. It is a very difficult financial situation.”
Harold Bodmer, director of adult social services, said: “It is a tough situation. We have to set this on the context of a very difficult budget.”
The most severe cutbacks proposed are reducing the number of people who receive care by 1,084 over the next three years, saving £3m next year and more than £19m in all.
Hilary Macdonald, chief executive of Age Concern Norfolk, said that some people might choose to do without services if they were faced with having to pay more.
She said: “Inevitably the burden is going to fall on family and other carers.
“We are very concerned that with the need for cuts - and this is across the board, in health services as well as social services - preventative services will fall off the agenda. It is vitally important that older people receive the support they need”.
Chris Mowle, cabinet member for adult social services, said: “Quite clearly the government is underfunding social care by a massive amount, therefore if county councillors hold to their pledge and keep council tax down, services for vulnerable adults are at extreme risk.”
The department is trying to make £13m of savings from the adult social services budget next year alone, a figure which rises to £37m over the next three years.
It is part of what County Hall chiefs described as a “difficult” picture for all the council's services. Although the county council will not hear about its government funding settlement until next month, it is expecting to receive an extra £16m from Whitehall - but faces paying an extra £38.7m in inflation costs and to meet rising demand for services, leaving it to make £22.7m of savings next year.
Paul Brittain, the council's head of finance, said: “There are savings right across the board in adult services, children's services, planning and transport and so on. It is a very difficult financial situation.”
Harold Bodmer, director of adult social services, said: “It is a tough situation. We have to set this on the context of a very difficult budget.”
The most severe cutbacks proposed are reducing the number of people who receive care by 1,084 over the next three years, saving £3m next year and more than £19m in all.
Hilary Macdonald, chief executive of Age Concern Norfolk, said that some people might choose to do without services if they were faced with having to pay more.
She said: “Inevitably the burden is going to fall on family and other carers.
“We are very concerned that with the need for cuts - and this is across the board, in health services as well as social services - preventative services will fall off the agenda. It is vitally important that older people receive the support they need”.
Chris Mowle, cabinet member for adult social services, said: “Quite clearly the government is underfunding social care by a massive amount, therefore if county councillors hold to their pledge and keep council tax down, services for vulnerable adults are at extreme risk.”
Labels:
council cuts,
elderly care,
norfolk,
social services
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
Norfolk: Flagship hospital at full capacity
Norfolk's flagship hospital last night reassured patients that it was open for emergency admissions and routine operations, despite reaching maximum capacity - according to the Eastern Daily Press.
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital was yesterday placed on the highest state of alert following a large volume of admissions over the weekend.
Three other East of England hospitals, including the West Suffolk Hospital at Bury St Edmunds were also classed as being on “black alert” following an unusually high number of patients being transferred to Accident and Emergency and Emergency Assessment Units.
Officials at the Norfolk and Norwich yesterday urged local GPs to look into alternative treatment plans for their patients and to avoid referrals as much as possible, whilst the hospital aimed to speed up discharge arrangements for those medically fit to leave in a bid to address the “critical” bed capacity issue.
However, the hospital confirmed that scheduled operations would continue as usual and there were currently no plans to turn away emergency admissions to the James Paget Hospital at Gorleston and Queen Elizabeth Hospital at King's Lynn, which are at amber and green alert levels respectively.
Hospitals at Hinchingbrooke, Cambridgeshire, and Peterborough were also placed on black alert, whilst Ipswich and Addenbrooke's, in Cambridge, were on red alert - the second highest pressure score.
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital spokesman Andrew Stronach said it had been an “extremely busy” weekend for emergency admissions and equally busy yesterday with GP referrals, which had no link to bonfire night celebrations or any winter bugs.
“We are full. There is no more room in the inn, so we make sure that we can discharge as many patients as we can and free up beds for emergencies. If GPs can manage their patients without admitting to hospital, that would be much appreciated.
“There is no rhyme or reason to it. It was just a high volume of medical illnesses and surgery cases over the weekend and today (Monday),” he said.
Mr Stronach added that it was “not particularly unusual” for the flagship hospital to be on black alert and had been in the same situation 27 times last year.
Hospitals can be placed on black alert for a variety of reasons such as a rapid rise in emergency admissions, severe lack of beds, low staff numbers, or system failure and can be resolved in the most extreme cases by stopping new admissions, routine operations and transferring new patients elsewhere.
Jonathan Cook, director of corporate services for Norfolk Primary Care Trust, said: “We are confident that we have robust procedures in place to ensure that we deal with these emergency admission problems appropriately and assist the Norfolk and Norwich by avoiding non-urgent GP referrals.
We continue to work with our colleagues at the hospital and will monitor the situation extremely closely.”
A spokeswoman from the West Suffolk Hospital added: “We are on black alert because of an unusual high volume of A&E admissions, but these things happen and we are coping with it.”
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital was yesterday placed on the highest state of alert following a large volume of admissions over the weekend.
Three other East of England hospitals, including the West Suffolk Hospital at Bury St Edmunds were also classed as being on “black alert” following an unusually high number of patients being transferred to Accident and Emergency and Emergency Assessment Units.
Officials at the Norfolk and Norwich yesterday urged local GPs to look into alternative treatment plans for their patients and to avoid referrals as much as possible, whilst the hospital aimed to speed up discharge arrangements for those medically fit to leave in a bid to address the “critical” bed capacity issue.
However, the hospital confirmed that scheduled operations would continue as usual and there were currently no plans to turn away emergency admissions to the James Paget Hospital at Gorleston and Queen Elizabeth Hospital at King's Lynn, which are at amber and green alert levels respectively.
Hospitals at Hinchingbrooke, Cambridgeshire, and Peterborough were also placed on black alert, whilst Ipswich and Addenbrooke's, in Cambridge, were on red alert - the second highest pressure score.
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital spokesman Andrew Stronach said it had been an “extremely busy” weekend for emergency admissions and equally busy yesterday with GP referrals, which had no link to bonfire night celebrations or any winter bugs.
“We are full. There is no more room in the inn, so we make sure that we can discharge as many patients as we can and free up beds for emergencies. If GPs can manage their patients without admitting to hospital, that would be much appreciated.
“There is no rhyme or reason to it. It was just a high volume of medical illnesses and surgery cases over the weekend and today (Monday),” he said.
Mr Stronach added that it was “not particularly unusual” for the flagship hospital to be on black alert and had been in the same situation 27 times last year.
Hospitals can be placed on black alert for a variety of reasons such as a rapid rise in emergency admissions, severe lack of beds, low staff numbers, or system failure and can be resolved in the most extreme cases by stopping new admissions, routine operations and transferring new patients elsewhere.
Jonathan Cook, director of corporate services for Norfolk Primary Care Trust, said: “We are confident that we have robust procedures in place to ensure that we deal with these emergency admission problems appropriately and assist the Norfolk and Norwich by avoiding non-urgent GP referrals.
We continue to work with our colleagues at the hospital and will monitor the situation extremely closely.”
A spokeswoman from the West Suffolk Hospital added: “We are on black alert because of an unusual high volume of A&E admissions, but these things happen and we are coping with it.”
Monday, 5 November 2007
Norfolk: Cash cuts for children’s services
Key services for children and young people in Norfolk could be under threat due to painful cuts being considered in order to fill a predicted £11m black hole in funding - reports the Eastern Daily Press.
Dozens of jobs face the axe over the next three years as financial experts try to make ends meet. And Norfolk's 450 schools face having to meet the bills for numerous services that have until now been provided free.
The expected cash crisis comes at a troubled time for the county, as growing numbers of schools are being judged "not good enough" by Ofsted inspectors, the numbers of children in care continue to spiral and GCSE achievement is falling further behind the national average.
Lisa Christensen, director of children's services, pledged that these three key areas would not be touched by any cuts. But they are putting pressure on the children's services department, and senior officers are being urged to come up with ways to save money through "efficiency savings".
The flurry of activity has come amid predictions that the government's 2008/9 settlement would only amount to a 2.3% increase in funds for Norfolk. A high-profile delegation has been to London from Norfolk to put pressure on the government in a bid to secure more money before the final amount is announced.
But at the moment all heads of department are working on the basis of the 2.3% rise, which barely covers the cost of inflation in key areas like transport and the price of providing care.
Rosalie Monbiot, cabinet member for children's services, admitted she was "frustrated" at the prospect of another tight financial settlement.
She said: "We deliver some marvellous services in Norfolk. If the worst comes to the worst we will be reduced to only delivering statutory services and that will not be of benefit to the children of the county. We don't have many areas where we can make the savings."
The possible cuts are outlined in a report to Wednesday's review panel.
It includes a proposal to save more than £2m in staffing costs over three years - the equivalent of at least 60 people losing their jobs or not being replaced. Other suggestions include saving £1m on special educational needs transport by more strictly enforcing the rules.
Dozens of jobs face the axe over the next three years as financial experts try to make ends meet. And Norfolk's 450 schools face having to meet the bills for numerous services that have until now been provided free.
The expected cash crisis comes at a troubled time for the county, as growing numbers of schools are being judged "not good enough" by Ofsted inspectors, the numbers of children in care continue to spiral and GCSE achievement is falling further behind the national average.
Lisa Christensen, director of children's services, pledged that these three key areas would not be touched by any cuts. But they are putting pressure on the children's services department, and senior officers are being urged to come up with ways to save money through "efficiency savings".
The flurry of activity has come amid predictions that the government's 2008/9 settlement would only amount to a 2.3% increase in funds for Norfolk. A high-profile delegation has been to London from Norfolk to put pressure on the government in a bid to secure more money before the final amount is announced.
But at the moment all heads of department are working on the basis of the 2.3% rise, which barely covers the cost of inflation in key areas like transport and the price of providing care.
Rosalie Monbiot, cabinet member for children's services, admitted she was "frustrated" at the prospect of another tight financial settlement.
She said: "We deliver some marvellous services in Norfolk. If the worst comes to the worst we will be reduced to only delivering statutory services and that will not be of benefit to the children of the county. We don't have many areas where we can make the savings."
The possible cuts are outlined in a report to Wednesday's review panel.
It includes a proposal to save more than £2m in staffing costs over three years - the equivalent of at least 60 people losing their jobs or not being replaced. Other suggestions include saving £1m on special educational needs transport by more strictly enforcing the rules.
Friday, 19 October 2007
Norfolk: Warning over care for future elderly
Thousands of East Anglian pensioners will not get the care they expect in old age, facing the grim prospect of footing hefty bills to pay for vital services, officials have warned - according to the Eastern Daily Press.
A report commissioned by the Local Government Association reveals a “startling gulf” between people's expected level of service from their council and the reality they will face in old age.
The survey shows that nine out of 10 adults want subsidised care from their council in old age - at a time when government funding to meet the needs of a growing elderly population is expected to dwindle from 2009.
Last night Age Concern and Norfolk County Council called for an immediate debate to raise people's awareness about the impact of government funding cuts on services.
“This is a very serious problem which is going to get worse and not many people are aware of it,” said Linda Gill, information and advice manger at Age Concern Norfolk.
“There has to be an urgent debate to raise awareness not just with elderly people, but also with men and women who are in their 40s or 50s now and who are not thinking about provisions for old age. They have to know what lies ahead of them,” she added.
There are 174,000 over 65s living in Norfolk of which 25,400 receive subsidised care. The number of elderly people is projected to increase to 187,750 by 2010, and the county council expects the number receiving subsidised care to increase proportionally.
However, despite the ageing population, government funding for essential services such as shopping, cleaning, bathing will drop to 3.45% by 2009 and to 3.4% by 2010/11.
“This is a real issue for Norfolk,” said Chris Mowle, county cabinet member for adult social services.
“We have an ever-growing older population as people live longer and in order for them to live well they will need more services. The government has just announced how much money councils will get next year and from Norfolk's point of view this was a bad settlement.”
He said the authority was at the bottom of the league table of all county councils when it comes to the allocation of overall grants.
A survey last year showed that the county was underfunded by £21m.
The LGA-commissioned MORI poll interviewed 956 adults across England and Wales, following the release of the Comprehensive Spending Review at the beginning of October.
Only five per cent of respondents across the country said they would expect to pay for all their basic care even though, closer inspection of the figures published in this year's Spending Review social care budget increases have failed to keep pace with demographic changes.
Last night Sir Simon Milton, chairman of the LGA said: “There is a startling gulf between the type of care they expect when they reach old age and the reality of what they will receive. A poor funding settlement, an ageing population and a lack of progress on any long term solution to the financial pressures on social services that local government will face a situation, by as early as 2009, where it cannot afford to provide service thousands of vulnerable old people.”
A report commissioned by the Local Government Association reveals a “startling gulf” between people's expected level of service from their council and the reality they will face in old age.
The survey shows that nine out of 10 adults want subsidised care from their council in old age - at a time when government funding to meet the needs of a growing elderly population is expected to dwindle from 2009.
Last night Age Concern and Norfolk County Council called for an immediate debate to raise people's awareness about the impact of government funding cuts on services.
“This is a very serious problem which is going to get worse and not many people are aware of it,” said Linda Gill, information and advice manger at Age Concern Norfolk.
“There has to be an urgent debate to raise awareness not just with elderly people, but also with men and women who are in their 40s or 50s now and who are not thinking about provisions for old age. They have to know what lies ahead of them,” she added.
There are 174,000 over 65s living in Norfolk of which 25,400 receive subsidised care. The number of elderly people is projected to increase to 187,750 by 2010, and the county council expects the number receiving subsidised care to increase proportionally.
However, despite the ageing population, government funding for essential services such as shopping, cleaning, bathing will drop to 3.45% by 2009 and to 3.4% by 2010/11.
“This is a real issue for Norfolk,” said Chris Mowle, county cabinet member for adult social services.
“We have an ever-growing older population as people live longer and in order for them to live well they will need more services. The government has just announced how much money councils will get next year and from Norfolk's point of view this was a bad settlement.”
He said the authority was at the bottom of the league table of all county councils when it comes to the allocation of overall grants.
A survey last year showed that the county was underfunded by £21m.
The LGA-commissioned MORI poll interviewed 956 adults across England and Wales, following the release of the Comprehensive Spending Review at the beginning of October.
Only five per cent of respondents across the country said they would expect to pay for all their basic care even though, closer inspection of the figures published in this year's Spending Review social care budget increases have failed to keep pace with demographic changes.
Last night Sir Simon Milton, chairman of the LGA said: “There is a startling gulf between the type of care they expect when they reach old age and the reality of what they will receive. A poor funding settlement, an ageing population and a lack of progress on any long term solution to the financial pressures on social services that local government will face a situation, by as early as 2009, where it cannot afford to provide service thousands of vulnerable old people.”
Friday, 21 September 2007
Norfolk: Fresh funds sought for A140 bypass
Money to build a £21m bypass will have to be found from other sources as government funding has been refused - reports the Eastern Daily Press.
Work on the long-awaited A140 bypass at Long Stratton cannot start because the project was not given priority status by the government last year. South Norfolk Council is now looking at alternative ways to find the money.
A shortage of government money has forced choices to be made between wider regional schemes and smaller-scale projects like the Long Stratton bypass.
Despite the benefits of such local schemes to traffic-choked towns and villages, it's the regional schemes that are currently getting the limited government funding available.
Alternatively contributions from housing developers could also be used to pay for the bypass, which would have the capacity to remove around 20,000 cars a day from the village, but in return a large number of houses would need to be built.
This is yet another example of the government not having enough money to make all the improvements to our infrastructure that are needed.
So it's surely completely inappropriate for them to be intending to reward the audit-failing EU with a 63% increase in payments - an extra £2.5bn a year on top of the £3.5bn we're already paying.
The £21m needed for this bypass is less than TWO days worth of the money the government wants to hand the EU. Which is a better use for that money?
And where do Norfolk's MPs stand ... will they be supporting the bypass, or approving even more cash for the wasteful EU?
Work on the long-awaited A140 bypass at Long Stratton cannot start because the project was not given priority status by the government last year. South Norfolk Council is now looking at alternative ways to find the money.
A shortage of government money has forced choices to be made between wider regional schemes and smaller-scale projects like the Long Stratton bypass.
Despite the benefits of such local schemes to traffic-choked towns and villages, it's the regional schemes that are currently getting the limited government funding available.
Alternatively contributions from housing developers could also be used to pay for the bypass, which would have the capacity to remove around 20,000 cars a day from the village, but in return a large number of houses would need to be built.
This is yet another example of the government not having enough money to make all the improvements to our infrastructure that are needed.
So it's surely completely inappropriate for them to be intending to reward the audit-failing EU with a 63% increase in payments - an extra £2.5bn a year on top of the £3.5bn we're already paying.
The £21m needed for this bypass is less than TWO days worth of the money the government wants to hand the EU. Which is a better use for that money?
And where do Norfolk's MPs stand ... will they be supporting the bypass, or approving even more cash for the wasteful EU?
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Norfolk: Protest at hospital closure
Today more than a thousand letters from people in Norfolk appealing to the government to intervene and save a much-loved cottage hospital will be handed to the Westminster.
April Pond, Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Broadland, will give more than 1,100 letters from Norfolk residents concerned about the proposed closure of St Michael's hospital in Aylsham, to the Department of Health.
The letters have been sent to April over recent weeks, many with added notes of personal experiences of the care at St Michael's, and they appeal directly to Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, for his help in saving the hospital, which was the only one targeted for closure in a shake up of Norfolk PCT services.
Ms Pond said: “The Department of Health has told us that health care decisions should be made locally, but we are saying that by ordering the repayment of the huge deficit the Norfolk Primary Care Trust has in less than a year, a huge pressure is being brought by the department to cut and close much needed and much loved local hospitals.
“We feel Norfolk is being badly treated and ask for Alan Johnson to intervene.”
April Pond, Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Broadland, will give more than 1,100 letters from Norfolk residents concerned about the proposed closure of St Michael's hospital in Aylsham, to the Department of Health.
The letters have been sent to April over recent weeks, many with added notes of personal experiences of the care at St Michael's, and they appeal directly to Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, for his help in saving the hospital, which was the only one targeted for closure in a shake up of Norfolk PCT services.
Ms Pond said: “The Department of Health has told us that health care decisions should be made locally, but we are saying that by ordering the repayment of the huge deficit the Norfolk Primary Care Trust has in less than a year, a huge pressure is being brought by the department to cut and close much needed and much loved local hospitals.
“We feel Norfolk is being badly treated and ask for Alan Johnson to intervene.”
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Norfolk: Plea to health secretary over Aylsham hospital
Campaigners at Aylsham are calling on health secretary Alan Johnson to overturn a decision to axe their historic hospital.
More than 1,000 people have signed letters asking him to save the 25-bed St Michael's unit which Norfolk's primary care trust recently voted to close by June 2009.
And in a two-pronged attack the town is also set to lobby a county watchdog committee next month which could refuse to ratify the decision.
The letter campaign has been organised by Broadland Liberal Democrats who hope to hand them over to Mr Johnson at Westminster next month.
Lib Dem parliamentary spokeswoman April Pond said closure completely contradicted the government's white paper on health, which clearly stated that patients should be treated closer to home and that community facilities should be kept open where they were wanted and not be closed purely because of lack of funds.
It also flew in the face of local democracy and opinion. It adds: “Norfolk residents don't want to see this hospital closed” and calls on Mr Johnson to “heed their wishes and overturn the decision.”
Signatories had also added their own experiences of the care they had received at St Michael's, their time working there, its history as a war memorial cottage hospital and their fears about the fate of facilities bought through local fund-raising and donations.
“People really feel cheated,” said Mrs Pond. “I have never seen such an enormous outcry about anything.”
Liz Jones, chairman of Aylsham Town Council, said she was not surprised at the response to the letter campaign which had been supported by everyone she came across.
“It's an issue that cuts across party politics. Everyone is so incensed by the whole thing,” she added.
A meeting of the hospital campaign group on Monday would explore ways of lobbying the Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee which is expected to debate the PCT board's plans for community bed numbers and hospital closures when it meets on September 27.
If it is unhappy with the trust's decision, it has the power to refer the matter to health secretary Mr Johnson.
Miss Jones hopes that members of the working party, including local GPs, will be allowed to address the committee and plead St Michael's case.
She said: “It is vital that we give it this one last push.”
The Friends of North Walsham's War Memorial Cottage Hospital are urgently appealing for more donations and support following this year's successful campaign to keep the service open.
The group's annual meeting heard continuing vigilance was needed to guard against any possible U-turn by the PCT.
Chairman Brian Elliott and treasurer Brian Blackburn stressed the importance of keeping the public aware of the hospital's situation and the Friends' desperate need for continuing donations so that the group could get back to providing comforts and other items for patients and staff, as it had done in the past.
More than 1,000 people have signed letters asking him to save the 25-bed St Michael's unit which Norfolk's primary care trust recently voted to close by June 2009.
And in a two-pronged attack the town is also set to lobby a county watchdog committee next month which could refuse to ratify the decision.
The letter campaign has been organised by Broadland Liberal Democrats who hope to hand them over to Mr Johnson at Westminster next month.
Lib Dem parliamentary spokeswoman April Pond said closure completely contradicted the government's white paper on health, which clearly stated that patients should be treated closer to home and that community facilities should be kept open where they were wanted and not be closed purely because of lack of funds.
It also flew in the face of local democracy and opinion. It adds: “Norfolk residents don't want to see this hospital closed” and calls on Mr Johnson to “heed their wishes and overturn the decision.”
Signatories had also added their own experiences of the care they had received at St Michael's, their time working there, its history as a war memorial cottage hospital and their fears about the fate of facilities bought through local fund-raising and donations.
“People really feel cheated,” said Mrs Pond. “I have never seen such an enormous outcry about anything.”
Liz Jones, chairman of Aylsham Town Council, said she was not surprised at the response to the letter campaign which had been supported by everyone she came across.
“It's an issue that cuts across party politics. Everyone is so incensed by the whole thing,” she added.
A meeting of the hospital campaign group on Monday would explore ways of lobbying the Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee which is expected to debate the PCT board's plans for community bed numbers and hospital closures when it meets on September 27.
If it is unhappy with the trust's decision, it has the power to refer the matter to health secretary Mr Johnson.
Miss Jones hopes that members of the working party, including local GPs, will be allowed to address the committee and plead St Michael's case.
She said: “It is vital that we give it this one last push.”
The Friends of North Walsham's War Memorial Cottage Hospital are urgently appealing for more donations and support following this year's successful campaign to keep the service open.
The group's annual meeting heard continuing vigilance was needed to guard against any possible U-turn by the PCT.
Chairman Brian Elliott and treasurer Brian Blackburn stressed the importance of keeping the public aware of the hospital's situation and the Friends' desperate need for continuing donations so that the group could get back to providing comforts and other items for patients and staff, as it had done in the past.
Thursday, 5 July 2007
Norfolk: Ministers warned over flood budget cuts
Ministers were last night urged to pump millions more into Norfolk's flood defences to prevent communities being swept away by water - reports the Eastern Daily Press.
Norfolk County Council is lobbying new environment secretary Hilary Benn to restore a £20m cut made to the Environment Agency's flood defence funding for the Anglian region.
This year the agency's spending on flood risk management in the region has been slashed from £99m to £79m.
Ian Monson, cabinet member for the environment and waste, has written to Mr Benn warning that the funding squeeze could seriously compromise the Agency's abilities to carry out its duties.
“We feel it will accumulate if we don't put the right resources in properly to manage our flood defences properly they could be in danger in the future,” he said.
“It is a warning. There's a definite feeling from people here in Norfolk along the coasts and river banks that things are getting worse. This is rapidly becoming a major concern.
"It's not only coastal defences, it's riverbanks, and doing the remedial work in clearing silt out of the rivers.
“We took a big knock for funding in this region and clearly we have suffered with flooding. We need to get this reinstated and put the budget back.” he said.
Last month MPs warned that swathes of lowland East Anglia could be routinely deluged because of a neglect of the region's flood defences.
It followed a hard hitting report by the National Audit Office stating that the Environment Agency was not doing enough to protect property and businesses.
North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham, who quizzed Mr Benn about the extra funding in Parliament, said it was vital extra cash would be found for sea defences.
“We need to make sure that the sea defences budget is increased,” he said. “Luckily in Norfolk very few of the rivers flood, but the main danger is from the sea and a lot of my constituency could well disappear.
“Defra has been hit really hard by the rural payments fiasco and the money has had to be found elsewhere in the budget. They have had a rough settlement from the government and there are good reasons to be concerned about the government's commitment to Defra and the countryside.
“Maybe these floods are a wake up call but the devil is going to be in the detail,” he added.
Steve Wheatley, the Environment Agency's flood manager for the Anglian region, said the region had lost out following a funding change which saw cash handed out based on national priorities.
“Overall it would help if there was more money for flood risk management and we do manage with a limited pot,” he said.
Are Norfolk's MPs really going to vote to reward the audit-failing EU with an extra £2.5bn a year, while their county is under threat of disappearing underwater unless there is greater investment in flood defences?
Henry Bellingham MP, at least, has confirmed that he will vote to block the EU budget deal while there are such urgent and crucial local needs for extra investment.
But what about Norfolk's other MPs? Should the worst happen, are they going to risk being seen to have taken a terrible decision with scarce public money, and to have massively betrayed their constituents' interests?
Norfolk County Council is lobbying new environment secretary Hilary Benn to restore a £20m cut made to the Environment Agency's flood defence funding for the Anglian region.
This year the agency's spending on flood risk management in the region has been slashed from £99m to £79m.
Ian Monson, cabinet member for the environment and waste, has written to Mr Benn warning that the funding squeeze could seriously compromise the Agency's abilities to carry out its duties.
“We feel it will accumulate if we don't put the right resources in properly to manage our flood defences properly they could be in danger in the future,” he said.
“It is a warning. There's a definite feeling from people here in Norfolk along the coasts and river banks that things are getting worse. This is rapidly becoming a major concern.
"It's not only coastal defences, it's riverbanks, and doing the remedial work in clearing silt out of the rivers.
“We took a big knock for funding in this region and clearly we have suffered with flooding. We need to get this reinstated and put the budget back.” he said.
Last month MPs warned that swathes of lowland East Anglia could be routinely deluged because of a neglect of the region's flood defences.
It followed a hard hitting report by the National Audit Office stating that the Environment Agency was not doing enough to protect property and businesses.
North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham, who quizzed Mr Benn about the extra funding in Parliament, said it was vital extra cash would be found for sea defences.
“We need to make sure that the sea defences budget is increased,” he said. “Luckily in Norfolk very few of the rivers flood, but the main danger is from the sea and a lot of my constituency could well disappear.
“Defra has been hit really hard by the rural payments fiasco and the money has had to be found elsewhere in the budget. They have had a rough settlement from the government and there are good reasons to be concerned about the government's commitment to Defra and the countryside.
“Maybe these floods are a wake up call but the devil is going to be in the detail,” he added.
Steve Wheatley, the Environment Agency's flood manager for the Anglian region, said the region had lost out following a funding change which saw cash handed out based on national priorities.
“Overall it would help if there was more money for flood risk management and we do manage with a limited pot,” he said.
Are Norfolk's MPs really going to vote to reward the audit-failing EU with an extra £2.5bn a year, while their county is under threat of disappearing underwater unless there is greater investment in flood defences?
Henry Bellingham MP, at least, has confirmed that he will vote to block the EU budget deal while there are such urgent and crucial local needs for extra investment.
But what about Norfolk's other MPs? Should the worst happen, are they going to risk being seen to have taken a terrible decision with scarce public money, and to have massively betrayed their constituents' interests?
Saturday, 31 March 2007
Superbug death was 'diabolical'
The widow of a man who fell victim to a superbug that has claimed 17 lives at a Norfolk hospital yesterday described his death as "diabolical" - reports the Sunday Telegraph.
Great-grandfather Leslie Burton-Pye, 74, was infected with Clostridium difficile in January while visiting the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston for a blood transfusion.
He fell ill soon after and was admitted to the hospital where he stayed until released in mid-March. He was re-admitted last Sunday and died the next day.
Yesterday, his widow, Mavis, 67, said: "I wish I hadn't let him go in for the transfusion. He had health problems before then but he lived with them and was okay up to the point where he went to hospital. It is heartbreaking."
Mrs Burton-Pye, who lived with her husband in the Norfolk Broads town of Acle, added: "He had just gone into hospital for some blood and picked this bug up. It is absolutely diabolical that he caught this thing on just a routine visit. I just can't believe he has gone. It won't sink in."
She said Mr Burton-Pye's family - including five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren - had been devastated by his death.
Bosses at the hospital, which has been infected with the virulent "027" strain of the superbug, admit it could take 12 weeks to get the outbreak under control.
The 17 deaths, almost all of people aged 65 and over, have occurred since December. Sixteen more patients have been infected but survived.
The hospital has invested an extra £400,000 to tackle the outbreak but Wendy Slaney, the acting chief executive of the hospital, said it could take months to bring under control.
Perhaps the problem could be solved more quickly and more deaths avoided, if the trust had more money to invest in tackling it.
Sadly local MP Tony Wright intends to vote to improve government plans to hand 60% extra - £2.5bn more a year - to the EU ... a body that hasn't had its accounts approved for 12 years in a row.
What a waste of money, some of which could have been put to better use in his own constituency. A choice that's likely to be very hard to justify to local voters come the next election, when we point out such irresponsible actions with public funds.
Great-grandfather Leslie Burton-Pye, 74, was infected with Clostridium difficile in January while visiting the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston for a blood transfusion.
He fell ill soon after and was admitted to the hospital where he stayed until released in mid-March. He was re-admitted last Sunday and died the next day.
Yesterday, his widow, Mavis, 67, said: "I wish I hadn't let him go in for the transfusion. He had health problems before then but he lived with them and was okay up to the point where he went to hospital. It is heartbreaking."
Mrs Burton-Pye, who lived with her husband in the Norfolk Broads town of Acle, added: "He had just gone into hospital for some blood and picked this bug up. It is absolutely diabolical that he caught this thing on just a routine visit. I just can't believe he has gone. It won't sink in."
She said Mr Burton-Pye's family - including five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren - had been devastated by his death.
Bosses at the hospital, which has been infected with the virulent "027" strain of the superbug, admit it could take 12 weeks to get the outbreak under control.
The 17 deaths, almost all of people aged 65 and over, have occurred since December. Sixteen more patients have been infected but survived.
The hospital has invested an extra £400,000 to tackle the outbreak but Wendy Slaney, the acting chief executive of the hospital, said it could take months to bring under control.
Perhaps the problem could be solved more quickly and more deaths avoided, if the trust had more money to invest in tackling it.
Sadly local MP Tony Wright intends to vote to improve government plans to hand 60% extra - £2.5bn more a year - to the EU ... a body that hasn't had its accounts approved for 12 years in a row.
What a waste of money, some of which could have been put to better use in his own constituency. A choice that's likely to be very hard to justify to local voters come the next election, when we point out such irresponsible actions with public funds.
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Wednesday, 5 April 2006
Bath & Norfolk hospitals latest to axe jobs
The Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath is to axe up to 300 posts in the latest round of NHS job cuts, reports the BBC.
The 650-bed hospital, which employs 3,500 staff, must make £13.2m savings.
The trust also plans to reduce costs by discharging patients "as soon as clinically possible" and halting the use of agency staff.
The latest redundancies follow the loss of 1,000 jobs at University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent and 400 at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
The James Paget Hospital, in Gorleston, Norfolk, also announced on Wednesday it is to shed 100 jobs in a bid to reduce its overspend by £4m.
The 650-bed hospital, which employs 3,500 staff, must make £13.2m savings.
The trust also plans to reduce costs by discharging patients "as soon as clinically possible" and halting the use of agency staff.
The latest redundancies follow the loss of 1,000 jobs at University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent and 400 at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
The James Paget Hospital, in Gorleston, Norfolk, also announced on Wednesday it is to shed 100 jobs in a bid to reduce its overspend by £4m.
Tuesday, 28 March 2006
Hundreds of Norfolk NHS staff face redundancy
Hundreds of doctors and nurses look certain to be made redundant at Norfolk's biggest hospital, it emerged last night. And other hospitals in the region look likely to follow suit.
The Eastern Daily Press reports that two Norfolk MPs - Labour's Ian Gibson and Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb - have called for a countywide delegation to lobby for extra funding as the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital strives to meet a £22m shortfall.
It comes amid fears that at least 700 jobs could be cut at the N&N, which employs 5700. Both MPs warned that as depleted numbers of staff struggle to cope with their workload, more services face being diverted to the private sector, undermining the Norfolk health economy.
N&N chief executive Paul Forden refused to confirm the number under threat, simply saying it would be "substantial". But he confirmed a review was being carried out as a matter of urgency and anannouncement was due in weeks.
"It is true that a significant number of those jobs will be among nurses and doctors", he added.
Nearly 200 vacant posts at the West Suffolk Hospital have been frozen and the James Paget Hospital, Gorleston, will announce the expected impact of its funding shortfall within weeks.
At the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, there are no job cuts planned at present but managers have not ruled out the possibility in the long-term.
A QEH spokesman said: "We have a deficit of £10.75m and we now need to findfurther savings of £14.5m. It seems inevitable that our already robust financial management will need to be further stepped up."
Nationally 1,000 jobs have already been cut in Staffordshire and the total number of losses in England has been forecast to top 15,000.
The N&N has embarked on an efficiency drive as it expects this year's settlement to be an increase of just 1.5pc on last year's £278m - less than the rate of inflation and at a time of rising public sector costs.
Mr Forden said: "With a £22m shortfall to meet, it is self-evident that a substantial number of jobs will go. How many and from what areas remains to be seen.
"People often forget that, although they directly receive care from front line staff, they rely on clerical and administrative staff to book them in and ensure it runs smoothly. We have to recognise this and achieve a balance."
Dr Gibson said he feared that "no job was secure" at the N&N. "At least 700 jobs could go; it could be a catastrophe. We need to tackle this debt situation immediately," he said.
"If the hospital runs out of money, it could close. This financial situation could lead to the downfall of the N&N. Patients in Norfolk are seriously going to suffer."
Dr Gibson and Mr Lamb have written to health secretary Patricia Hewitt requesting she meet an all-party delegation from Norfolk to discuss the issue. Referring to the N&N, it reads: "The hospital trust had expected to have to make cost savings of some £5m next year."
Instead, two weeks before the new financial year, they were informed that the settlement for the forthcoming year was much worse than they had expected, leaving a shortfall of something in the region of £20m.
"We are aware that the trust has managed to achieve financial break-even every year despite significant cost pressures. We believe, therefore, that this is a well run trust."
Mr Lamb said he was hopeful the government could be persuaded to improve its settlement.
"We have to be optimistic because the alternative is simply untenable," he said. "You cannot cut this many jobs without patients suffering - there simply aren't that many backroom jobs to be cut."
Under such conditions hospitals will find themselves marginalised with more work diverted to the public sector. If those circumstances continue I have no doubt whatsoever that we will see hospital closures in East Anglia in the next few years."
Harry Seddon, from public sector union Unison, said: "We have a well managed hospital that only managed to break even last year through the sheer hard work of staff, but it is going to impact across all services to save £22 million."
Andrew Stronach, spokesman for the N&N, said it was unlikely that the N&N would face the threat of closure.
"The trust has balanced its books every single year since 1994 so to say it would have to close is a rather extreme," he said. "However, we do have grave concerns for the next financial year."
MPs Ian Gibson & Norman Lamb may well be planning to lobby for extra funding to solve this cash crisis at their local hospital. As Mr Lamb says, if the cuts go ahead it's going to lead to "patients suffering".
But will these MPs also be giving Blair's increased handout to Brussels of £6 billion a year the nod when it comes before Parliament later this year?
The £22 million shortfall at stake in Norfolk would be wiped out in a little more than a day if they vote against that. Easy solution.
Which would their constituents prefer the money was spent on?
The Eastern Daily Press reports that two Norfolk MPs - Labour's Ian Gibson and Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb - have called for a countywide delegation to lobby for extra funding as the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital strives to meet a £22m shortfall.
It comes amid fears that at least 700 jobs could be cut at the N&N, which employs 5700. Both MPs warned that as depleted numbers of staff struggle to cope with their workload, more services face being diverted to the private sector, undermining the Norfolk health economy.
N&N chief executive Paul Forden refused to confirm the number under threat, simply saying it would be "substantial". But he confirmed a review was being carried out as a matter of urgency and anannouncement was due in weeks.
"It is true that a significant number of those jobs will be among nurses and doctors", he added.
Nearly 200 vacant posts at the West Suffolk Hospital have been frozen and the James Paget Hospital, Gorleston, will announce the expected impact of its funding shortfall within weeks.
At the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, there are no job cuts planned at present but managers have not ruled out the possibility in the long-term.
A QEH spokesman said: "We have a deficit of £10.75m and we now need to findfurther savings of £14.5m. It seems inevitable that our already robust financial management will need to be further stepped up."
Nationally 1,000 jobs have already been cut in Staffordshire and the total number of losses in England has been forecast to top 15,000.
The N&N has embarked on an efficiency drive as it expects this year's settlement to be an increase of just 1.5pc on last year's £278m - less than the rate of inflation and at a time of rising public sector costs.
Mr Forden said: "With a £22m shortfall to meet, it is self-evident that a substantial number of jobs will go. How many and from what areas remains to be seen.
"People often forget that, although they directly receive care from front line staff, they rely on clerical and administrative staff to book them in and ensure it runs smoothly. We have to recognise this and achieve a balance."
Dr Gibson said he feared that "no job was secure" at the N&N. "At least 700 jobs could go; it could be a catastrophe. We need to tackle this debt situation immediately," he said.
"If the hospital runs out of money, it could close. This financial situation could lead to the downfall of the N&N. Patients in Norfolk are seriously going to suffer."
Dr Gibson and Mr Lamb have written to health secretary Patricia Hewitt requesting she meet an all-party delegation from Norfolk to discuss the issue. Referring to the N&N, it reads: "The hospital trust had expected to have to make cost savings of some £5m next year."
Instead, two weeks before the new financial year, they were informed that the settlement for the forthcoming year was much worse than they had expected, leaving a shortfall of something in the region of £20m.
"We are aware that the trust has managed to achieve financial break-even every year despite significant cost pressures. We believe, therefore, that this is a well run trust."
Mr Lamb said he was hopeful the government could be persuaded to improve its settlement.
"We have to be optimistic because the alternative is simply untenable," he said. "You cannot cut this many jobs without patients suffering - there simply aren't that many backroom jobs to be cut."
Under such conditions hospitals will find themselves marginalised with more work diverted to the public sector. If those circumstances continue I have no doubt whatsoever that we will see hospital closures in East Anglia in the next few years."
Harry Seddon, from public sector union Unison, said: "We have a well managed hospital that only managed to break even last year through the sheer hard work of staff, but it is going to impact across all services to save £22 million."
Andrew Stronach, spokesman for the N&N, said it was unlikely that the N&N would face the threat of closure.
"The trust has balanced its books every single year since 1994 so to say it would have to close is a rather extreme," he said. "However, we do have grave concerns for the next financial year."
MPs Ian Gibson & Norman Lamb may well be planning to lobby for extra funding to solve this cash crisis at their local hospital. As Mr Lamb says, if the cuts go ahead it's going to lead to "patients suffering".
But will these MPs also be giving Blair's increased handout to Brussels of £6 billion a year the nod when it comes before Parliament later this year?
The £22 million shortfall at stake in Norfolk would be wiped out in a little more than a day if they vote against that. Easy solution.
Which would their constituents prefer the money was spent on?
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