I have written again today to the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) in pursuit of my complaint against the North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust.
My complaint relates to the failure of the Trust to consult or engage with residents in East Durham as part of their Momentum proposals to close our hospital at Hartlepool and build a new hospital at Wynyard (see posts dated 18 June, 8 August & 19 September 2012).
There is no public support for this proposal and this is confirmed in comments made by the Trust's chairman in the local papers this week in which he recognises that the lack of public support for the new hospital is "unfortunate" (see post dated 25 September 2012).
I have reproduced below the letter I have sent today to the Ombudsman asking for my complaint against the Trust to be investigated:
Dear Sir
Re: Complaint
reference EN – 136429:
Further to my previous
correspondence dated 16 June 2012 regarding the North Tees & Hartlepool NHS
Trust’s failure to consult with residents in East Durham on its Momentum proposals, I have pursued my
concerns through the Trust as you advised and have now received a response from
the Trust and have enclosed documents for your consideration.
I feel that the
Trust has failed to fully answer my query in relation to its consultation
exercise as it has not adequately identified a pattern of consultation in East
Durham to compare with the level and format of consultation in other affected
areas. My original complaint to the Trust related to its failure to demonstrate
that they had consulted with East Durham residents in a realistically defined
manner and failed to provide evidence of meaningful consultation. After reading
documents provided by the Trust my opinion remains unchanged.
It is accepted
that the Trust introduced the concept of its Momentum proposals to chosen groups in East Durham (albeit on a
reduced scale compared to other areas) and that updates on progress were
subsequently offered to other organisations however I insist that this cannot
be defined as consultation. From the main document supplied by the Trust “NHS Joint Committee – 23 October 2008” which was “convened to oversee the consultation process and to implement the
pathway to future health care” you will note for example that there was no
participation by any organisation from East Durham, nor was any invited. I
believe that this sums up the Trust’s approach to consultation with health
service users and residents in the East Durham area.
I have enclosed a
copy of the Trust’s document and I can confirm that I am not taking legal
action against the Trust. I give consent to the Ombudsman to obtain any papers
and records connected to the complaint.
Yours Faithfully
Rob Crute
I will update on progress with this matter in due course. In the meantime please let me know if you have any comments or concerns in relation to the Trust's actions.
