Houses proposed on land set aside for health facility at Frenchay

Your Focus Team was shocked to learn that North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) have given the nod to developer Redrow to put in a planning application on land previously set aside for new health facilities at the former Frenchay Hospital site.

Back in November we were told that the future requirements for community health and care facilities at Frenchay and Thornbury were going back to the drawing board. We know now that, by that time, NBT were already in talks with Redrow about developing housing across much of the Frenchay site.

We think it is outrageous that the NBT are considering allowing houses to be built on land that was supposed to be used for community health facilities before they’ve worked out how they are going to provide those facilities. It's a sad reflection on Government underfunding of our local NHS that they feel under pressure to do this.

Road works to cause night time and early morning delays on Ring Road and in Frenchay

Major resurfacing works are coming up in the Hambrrok / Frenchay area.

From 3 to 6 November overnight works will take place on Bristol Road, Frenchay from the Hambrook lights down to the former Frenchay Hospital entrance, and on the Hospital end of Old Gloucester Road as well.

From 5 to 12 November the ring road junction at the A4174 Hambrook lights (the Winterbourne junction)  will also be resurfaced.

Work will take place between 8pm and 6am each night, and the roads affected will be closed overnight.

South Glos say that alternative routes will be signposted, but delays will be likely (We reckon inevitable is more like it!)

Have you signed Steve Webb's petition for decent buses to Southmead Hospital?

When Frenchay Hospital closes most of its services, most patients from our area will need to find their way to Southmead Hospital instead, through some of the worst traffic in Bristol. There are plans to improve some of the bus services to Southmead, but all our area is being offered is a bus to parkway Station, then you would have to wait for another bus to Southmead.

Imagine trying to get there for an appointment, if you haven't got a car or you acn't drive at the moment, especially if you're feeling unwell. And what about visitors and staff who live in our area? We think this just isn't good enough.

Steve Webb and the Focus Team have already gathered hundreds of signatures on the "We need a bus to Southmead" petition. Steve says

A big thank you to everyone who has responded to the petition already. The Council has a meeting of its PTSE committee (planning, transportation and strategic environment!) in the first week in September and will be looking at options for transport to Southmead, so we'll be sending them the petition before that meeting. If anyone hasn't signed yet, there is still time to sign the online petition at:


http://southmeadbuspetition.wordpress.com/signthepetition/

We need a direct bus to Southmead Hospital!

The main NHS acute hospital for people in and around Yate is moving from Frenchay to Southmead next year. So how would YOU get from Yate or Chipping Sodbury to Southmead, without a car?

Steve Webb asked the question, and the best they could come up with was to catch a bus to Bristol Parkway and then change and get another bus to Southmead. Imagine - it's cold, it's wet, and you're already not feeling very well.

According to the North Bristol NHS Trust "whilst a direct service from Southmead to Yate was considered early on in discussions it would be unaffordable as a new service" - it's just not good enough.

You can join Steve Webb's new Facebook group "We need a bus to Southmead", and we'll keep you posted here as well.

Gordon Brown says no to Frenchay Hospital Review

At Prime Minister's Question Time Gordon Brown has refused to consider an independent review of the Frenchay Hospital decision. See Steve Webb's blog entry here.

Frenchay Hospital - maybe some progress

This is the short version - you can read the full story on Steve Webb's blog.

First the bad news - we tried to get the Parliamentary Ombudsman to investigate the way they decided to downgrade Frenchay Hospital - but she's decided she can't because nobody has "suffered injustice" yet. And by the time they have, the hospital will be closed and it'll be too late.

And now the GOOD NEWS (maybe) - The new Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, has said in the Commons “…I will, as a matter of course, ask the Independent Reconfiguration Panel - our expert clinical group - for advice on any decisions made at local level which have been referred to me by Overview and Scrutiny Committees”.

Last week's meeting of South Glos Council's health scrutiny committee was just going to note that Mr Johnson had responded negatively to the Council's concerns about the Bristol Health Services Plan.

However Lib Dem Cllr Sue Hope tabled an amendment saying that the Committee should make a fresh referral of the whole thing to the new Secretary of State. It was passed because the Lib Dems persuaded the Conservatives to vote for it as well.

The Labour spokesman says it's a waste of money - they've given up already - see the Gazette story here.