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NHS

Head of Communications and Strategic Engagement SD&T CCG

Dear Mr Chalmers,

My letter to you is No 1, with attachments as listed.  

1.  Letter to Mr Ray Chalmers  Head of Communications and Strategic Engagement SD&T CCG (View as PDF)
2.  Stakeholder briefing  Aug 16 from SD&T CCG (View as PDF)
3.  Letter to Dr Diamond NDDH from 8 retired GPs and 3 retired surgeons.  NOT answered (View as PDF)
4.  Analysis of causes for 'delayed transfers' at NDDH in response to an FOI from me.  Very instructive. (View as PDF)
5.  FOI.  What consultation has taken place with all staff.   'The CCG has not yet started the formal consultation process on the future of community services. (View as PDF)
6.  Letter from me to the Public Affairs Committee.  It was taking evidence on 'delayed transfers' for the NAO.  There is additional information in that letter. (View as PDF)

I make no apologies for the length of my letter and the attachments.  We have been asked to consider complex and very important matters without all the facts.

for truth, justice and reason

David Halpin

Separately to - Dr Alison Diamond MB ChB  CE of the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust  and  Dr George Thomson  MB ChB  Medical Director  (NO REPLY)

Dr Tim Burke  BM (Southampton)  Chairman  NEW CCG   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dr Nick Roberts  MB ChB MBA     Chief Clinical Officer  SD&T CCG  and Dr Derek Greatorex  MB ChB  Clinical Chair    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  (Dr Derek Greatorex replied.)

Dear Dr ….... and doctors on the CCG board,

We write as doctors to doctors, with over 300 years of service in the NHS between us, because the service is in crisis.  We have especial concern about the closure or downgrading of Community Hospitals (CH) and how that will effect the competence of the District General Hospitals to deal with the ever increasing need for medical care.  We list just a few signs of this crisis for brevity.  We have no conflicting interests, our concern being only for the maintenance of good, rational services for all patients.

We know the duties of your public body was made clear by Sir David Nicholson KCB CBE Chief Executive of the NHS in England on 29 July 2010

• support from GP commissioners;
• strengthened public and patient engagement;
• clarity on the clinical evidence base; and
• consistency with current and prospective patient choice.

We will return to these rules later.

TO This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and by Royal Mail 31st March 2015

The Rt Hon Earl Howe PC Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Quality

Department of Health and Social Security
Richmond House
79, Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NS

REF: Your letter to Mr Stride 9-02-15 PO00000912802

Dear Lord Howe,

Mr Stride forwarded your letter the next day (1) and suggested that I would want time to consider it. This reply is long delayed. The political landscape, and especially that of our NHS, changes by the mile as on a train. I see that the Efford Bill ran out of steam 3-03-15 so this letter will deal with a few central points. Incidentally, I have asked Mr Stride to correspond by e-mail. That would be better for the plebiscite in allowing the easy sharing of correspondence etc and be less costly. At the Westminster end it would save many of those precious millions including that spent on expensive, crested ivory paper. And governments ask often that we should use e-correspondence. Furthermore, it is driving the NHS into becoming inappropriately 'paperless'.

Car Bill BoardTTIP is a great threat but less than the corruption in our UK. Whilst people battle against TTIP, they ignore, perhaps, vicious EU competition rules.  These are central in driving 'privatisation' within OUR NHS and in our other public services. The concordat that Milburn made with Eamonn Butler of the Adam Smith Institute in 2000 was also a big factor.

The task is to get as many fellow citizens thinking, and then fighting for OUR NHS. Consider bill boards on your car if you have one. Ours are outside ready for a trip into town - made for last Saturday.

If you care for OUR NHS you will have to fight for it. The politicians have it by the throat.

Find a candidate who is independent of party, who has done a job, has principle and vision, and who will fight for our NHS among other things that are vital to us.

Roof racks and do-it-yourself skills are the only requirement. I am investigating printed posters so waterproofing will not be necessary.

I have been pleading that the NHS should not be used as a political football for about 20 years.

The plan I urged was this -

The NHS would be kept away from the government of the day. Instead it would be led by a scrupulously chosen National Executive peopled by experts in all relevant fields and with evident wisdom in health and other fields.  They would be responsible in all respects.

It would report to parliament every six months via the Health Select Committee. That report would include progress, unmet needs, future plans etc