| Parliament
has risen for the summer. MPs next meet up at
Westminster on October 23rd. Too long a recess in
my view. Work
doesn’t stop though. Parliament’s
recess frees me up for more constituency work,
catching up on reading and correspondence.
I visited Kingston Hospital on
the day Parliament rose for example – and
heard reactions to the new NHS Plan. Quite
favourable, actually, though everyone is waiting
for details on Kingston’s share of the extra
money.
Promises of more staff are
welcome, as is the new focus on basics like
cleaning hospitals properly. Recently I’ve
had more complaints about the cleanliness of
Kingston Hospital than about waiting lists.
I still quizzed managers on
waiting times in Kingston’s Accident and
Emergency, which are still far too long. I am
determined they shorten – we simply
can’t go on as now until the new Casualty
Department opens next year. I can assure you Dr.
Jenny Tonge, my fellow Lib Dem MP for north
Kingston, and myself did not mince our words on
this! It’s clear to all that admission
processes at Kingston’s A&E can still be
improved.
|
Talking
of health, one document on my large summer
reading pile is the consultation on dissolving
Kingston & District Community NHS Trust, and
forming a new Kingston Primary Care Trust. This will affect every GP practice,
services like district nurses and health
visitors, local mental health services and
services for the elderly. So it’s important!
I will be sending in my views,
but did you know you can too? You can get copies
of the consultation at libraries, or by ringing
Kingston and Richmond Health Authority (020 8339
8000), or from the InterNet at www.krha.co.uk.
You have till the 11th September to
have your say.
Getting the NHS right must be a
top priority, summer recess or not.
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