AS the NHS has been pushed to breaking point this winter and scenes of chaos unfolded on hospital wards up and down the country, plans to replace Poole Hospital emergency department with an urgent care centre are a real cause for concern.
With Dorset facing a £258m health and social care deficit by 2021 the government appears to have no answer to this crisis other than to cut services under the guise of so-called ‘transformation plans’.
Improving patient care must be the number one priority for any changes to NHS services, but this is becoming more and more difficult given the scale of the savings that need to be made.
The government’s ‘transformation plans’ will only succeed if they are realistic, properly funded and have patient care as their priority.
Right now, they appear to be just a cover for cuts.
DR HELEN MCKEOWN BMA
South-West regional chair, Tavistock Square, London
Want to respond to this letter for publication? send us a letter
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel