Lost A&E in Wycombe

I would say taking a snapshot of where we are here on planet earth in the year 2013 – that anything short of a terrible atrocity such as 9/11 happening – that anything dodgy will and can happen and not many people will blink over it.

If you look at the state of all of the Countries in the world there are many which are run my dictators and even at the very top of the tree we see corruption still very much going on (mostly by large blue-chip companies) yet what gets done about anything that is wrong or illegal?

Not much as it goes..

Forget conspiracy theories or novels – I mean real life living, where everything crooked goes on and nothing much is done to stop it.

Around the world there are Arab Springs in the past there have been marches, wars, and demonstrations but here in our little part of the world we can’t be bothered to do or say anything anymore.

We sit back, we moan but we continue to take it.

We know when we see a story or news article that its either a cover up, a white wash or a spin but we read it as read that this must be true.

Of course it’s hard times and money is short at the moment but the word ‘apathy’ has never been more so that now.

We have gone back at least 20 years if not more in some cases – I would even argue that we’ve gone back to the stone age when it comes to certain aspects of our day to day life and I wouldn’t be surprised if we started seeing a return to the horse and cart on our roads or even witch doctors!!

Especially if they don’t return our stolen A&E Department back to us in High Wycombe.

I went to one of the public consultations “listening events” from the Sir Bruce Keogh enquiry at Aylesbury yesterday evening and wasn’t too impressed to be honest with you.

They had set out tables in a certain way and arranged that a senior person (and also someone taking notes) were seated with a number of people on each table and listened in individual stories from the people that came along to the event.

This gave them specific information to register and then later analyse the data to find key elements to why Bucks Healthcare Trust has higher than average death rates.

As I listened to the specific stories I was somewhat embarrassed that this could be allowed to happen to fellow human beings as I am now a part of the ‘establishment’ having been elected as a Bucks County Councillor and also now having a seat on the Heath committee (the same committee that before I was elected decided in their wisdom to agree to close down the Wycombe A&E). However when it came to my part – I spoke in general terms as to what it meant to the people of Wycombe no longer having an A&E and how we worry each time that we have an accident, just where to go?? I have written previously that I would go to John Radcliffe in Oxford as I’ve heard how long the waiting times are in Stoke Mandeville and it would take me too long to drive to Wexham.

Because of the overspill at places like Stoke and the terrible understaffing where they just can’t cope with the extra influx – this is why people are dying and also in unnecessary pain.

Bring back the A&E in Wycombe and also to the other Hospitals across the UK where they decided a few years ago to shut them all down.

And when I spoke about what it meant to us, that sometimes people from Wycombe have to go to 2 or 3 different hospitals when we’ve had an accident – all that the Consultant at our table said to the young lady writing the notes was one word – he said write down ‘sign posting’. Meaning that even after this enquiry that we unlikely get our A&E back – but rather they are looking for specific cases and will then report back to Sir Bruce and then to the PM.

So – there is the ‘listening event’ that we are so honoured to be invited to and talk in.

But I do ask that you go along (book first though – otherwise they will not let you in) The other event is this evening, look at the Bucks Free Website for further details. Judge for yourself.

I truly hope that one day times will a’ change and that people high up the food chain and organisations will start to care again and also listen to ‘the people’ who are the ones that pay the taxes and also buy the big companies branded goods, etc… These were the best of time and now the worst of times..

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