From: Nick Perry
Sent: 10 October 2007 22:17
To: 'Nick Yeo'
Subject: Further factors to be considered
Importance: High
Dear Mr Yeo,
Further to David's email, we are obviously disappointed not to have had a reply before now, and your view on the research published by the University of Sheffield on the impact of longer ambulance journeys vis a vis local maternity services.
I also want to draw your attention to an article by Jeremy Laurance in the Independent newspaper, 8 October 2007 [ http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article3038383.ece ].
As you will see, the article discusses the amounts spent on compensation for medical negligence in obstetrics over the last three years (£665 million) as well as the recent report from the Royal College of Obstetricians.
The RCO report states that ‘too little is being done to reduce the risks of childbirth and make it safer for mothers and babies. It will blame shortages of consultants and midwives, increasing pressure from a rising birth rate, and lack of training.
‘The report, Safer Childbirth: Minimum Standards for the Organisation and Delivery of Care in Labour, will highlight how a tiny error during labour can result in oxygen deprivation and brain damage to the baby, leading to lifelong disability and a compensation payment of millions of pounds.'
I hope that such factors (primarily the importance of investing to save) will be taken into the mix as you come to a decision in the next few weeks about the future delivery of services in our area.
Needless to say, we are of the view that the evidence is stacking up in favour of Option 5.
We hope that this is the option you will choose to pursue.
In anticipation of your reply on the variety of issues we have raised; yours sincerely,
Nick Perry
_____________________________________________________________________________________
From: David Hancock
Sent: 10 October 2007 17:38
To: Nick Yeo
Cc: Nick Perry
Subject: Fw: Death risk increased with longer ambulance journeys
Dear Mr Yeo,
I attach a copy of the letter that was sent to you in late August. I wonder if you have yet been able to find time to properly formulate a reply.
Yours sincerely
David Hancock
CC Liberal Democrat PPC.
28 August 2007
Dear Mr Yeo,
Re: Death risk increased with longer ambulance journeys
With regard to proposals affecting the future of Women's Services and Special Baby Care in our area, you may be aware that Hastings & Rye Liberal Democrats have consistently supported Option 5, to preserve access to high quality maternity care in both towns. This is the option favoured by campaigners from the Hastings-based Hands off the Conquest organisation and the Eastbourne DGH.
When Hastings Borough Council voted for Option 4 on 9 July 2007, this was without Liberal Democrat support. Liberal Democrat members of Rother District Council also support Option 5 and opposed Option 4.
We are committed to doing all we can to make sure local people retain access to important, basic NHS services in their own area. We believe that weak infrastructure militates against cuts in Hastings or Eastbourne districts.
We therefore have grave concern over reports on newly published research into ambulance journey times and the findings that high risk patients are more likely to die after long ambulance journeys. The findings are from research carried out by the University of Sheffield and headed by Professor Jon Nicholl. They clearly demonstrate increased risk implications of greater ambulance journey times in emergency clinical situations.
Whilst acknowledging that the PCT will have to balance a number of important issues in coming to a final decision, we believe that this is further evidence in support of Option 5.
In the context of the decisions to be made about local maternity services later this year, we would be glad of your response in respect of Professor Nicholl's research.
In anticipation of your reply.
Yours truly,
David Hancock
Local party chair
cc. Cllr Richard Stevens, Lib Dem Group Leader, HBC
Margaret Williams, Hands off the Conquest
Cllr Stephen Springthorpe, HBC
Stephen Lloyd
Peter Lyndsay
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