The Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley CBE MP visited the Island yesterday to hear about the unique way in which the Island’s health service is structured and described the way that local health professionals worked together as ‘very impressive’.
Should the Conservatives win the forthcoming general election Mr Lansley is expected to take over responsibility for the National Health Service. Speaking yesterday after he had visited St Mary’s Hospital and the new prison hospital facilities he said :
“At St Mary’s the senior management team told me about the challenges they face delivering a wide range of services – many of which are normally only provided for a much larger population. Here on the Island you have found innovative ways to rise to that challenge which are very impressive. For instance, there are around 1,200 babies born on the Island each year. I have seen for myself the excellent neo-natal facilities that support the maternity ward – and heard how local staff are prepared to work flexibly when required. Yet in Solihull, services are being downgraded because it is ‘not viable’ to provide a full maternity cover for 2,800 babies.
“I would like to thank everyone who was involved with the visit; I learnt a great deal. I speak often with Andrew Turner about the Island’s health services, but sadly I didn’t have time to see everything I would have liked to see. I would encourage GPs and other health professionals to get in touch with Andrew and let him know their views to help with our discussions in the future.”
Mr Lansley also visited the Chemotherapy Unit, the new Beacon walk-in GP centre and the Accident and Emergency Unit:
“I was very impressed with what I saw and heard during my visit – I got the chance to talk not only to managers but to doctors, clinicians, nurses and patients. I know the Trust is working hard to provide services locally wherever possible. I wanted to see how that is working in practice and see if there are lessons we can use elsewhere – especially other rural areas. GPs are usually the first port of call for patients and are trusted intermediaries with the public. We need to put them at the heart of the process and they need to feel they are in the driving seat in commissioning services that their patients need. I was told how that is already being introduced here.
“This was my first visit to a prison health facility and it was extremely informative. It is a false economy to release prisoners at the end of their sentences without making sure that their underlying health problems are dealt with, particularly mental health issues. However, we need to make sure that just because there is a large prison on the Island it does not place an unreasonable burden on the Island’s health service.”
When questioned about the future of the Island’s health services under a Conservative government, Mr Lansley said:
“The sick would not pay for Labour’s terrible debt crisis. There are several policies already announced that would benefit the Island. Generally the NHS budget would rise in real terms each year of the next parliament. More specifically, the current funding formula does not properly recognise the extra costs of treating elderly patients. The Island is unusual that there are a high proportion of elderly residents and low income households – the allocation should recognise that. We will also allow decisions on what should be provided to be made locally – I can see that would be both popular and successful on the Island.
“I also heard how the Council have introduced free home care for the over 80s, ways in which they are helping elderly prisoners and they are also developing innovative software for groups who need advice. Working together with the NHS they are clearly providing much needed services which can lead to better services at lower costs. Many people currently find it difficult and confusing to access health information they need. A Conservative government would complement the 999 emergency services by introducing a 111 telephone number. That would connect you to local health professionals who would give you appropriate advice to your own area and let you know what action you should take. That would enable the Island to build on what is already being provided.”
Mr Turner said
“I was very pleased that Andrew Lansley found time to come and see for himself how health services are being delivered on the Island. Clearly there are challenges, but it was seen by health staff not as an opportunity to complain, but to tell him how they have dealt with them and what Government could do to help.
“As the Shadow Secretary of State for Health Andrew stressed that it is important to listen to health professionals on the front line – I would very much welcome hearing from local people and I will feed their views back to him.”
END Contact : Andrew Turner’s office 01983 530808