Dear
Sir/Madam,
I write to you
regarding the continuing removal of healthcare services from the University
Hospital of Hartlepool (UHH) by the North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust (the
Trust). I believe this to be done without meaningful and inclusive consultation
with service users and against the wishes of the people of East Durham.
I am aware
that you have been contacted recently by a colleague from Hartlepool (Keith
Fisher) and that you have made judgement on his complaint as it relates to the
population of Hartlepool. I would like you now to consider investigating the
actions of the Trust in removing services at UHH without consultation with the
residents of East Durham.
I have raised
this point of complaint with Trust representatives on a number of occasions in
the past and they have insisted that residents in East Durham were consulted by
Trust representatives reporting progress on the Momentum Pathways to Healthcare programme to the Health Scrutiny
Committee at Durham County Council. I believe there is no definition by which
this could accurately be described as consultation.
Despite being
offered several opportunities to demonstrate that they have consulted in a
realistically defined manner the Trust has failed consistently to provide
evidence. In effect this means that the residents of East Durham face the
continued loss of local healthcare services simply because they are not deemed
worthy of consideration or consultation, perhaps because they constitute a
small part of a much larger local authority and have thereby dipped beneath the
Trust’s radar.
I would be
grateful therefore if you would consider investigating the actions of the Trust
and the consequent plight of the people of East Durham in losing an essential
service against their wishes, against natural justice and without the benefit
of due process.
Regards,
Blackhall Division
Durham County Council
Phone: 07827
232 289
Blog: robcruteforblackhall.blogspot.com
