29/03/07 - Preservation of A&E receives cautious welcome
NEWS of the at Grantham Hospital has received a cautious welcome from campaigners fighting cuts to services.
NEWS of the at Grantham Hospital has received a cautious welcome from campaigners fighting cuts to services.Grantham Hospital Defence Committee vice-chairman Peter Gibson said: "I hope A&E is going to stay, but I don't know what's going on inside the Trust.
"What scares everybody witless is the fear of backtracking because its happened so many times."
"I do not have a problem with getting rid of land as long as it doesn't change the overall effect of the hospital.
"As long as the hospital can provide a proper service it doesn't matter what they sell."
Mr Gibson believes a rota system could be used to ensure emergency general surgery can stay at Grantham.
Charmaine Morgan, chairman of campaign group SOS Grantham Hospital, believes maintaining emergency surgery is vital.
She said: "Surgery should be maintained using a rota system so surgeon skills can be maintained. The will to restore this service is needed.
"While Trust members consider it unviable to put patients at risk on the operating table, they are prepared to put them at risk through unnecessary delays and travel."
Hospital campaigner councillor Mike Williams says he will continue to work to keep the Trust accountable to the public.
He said: "If Gary Walker is saying A&E is staying open that's a relief. I'm still concerned about the seriously ill patients who will have to travel.
"If it is positive news then it's good and the campaign has all been worthwhile, but I will be keeping a close eye on the situation."
A staff member at Grantham Hospital told the Journal that the end of emergency surgery meant the service is changing.
He said: "It's rubbish. From our point of view they're starting to change it to a minor injuries unit.
"The issue is there are going to be patients put at huge risk and won't survive an ambulance journey."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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