Tackling the Issues about Dewsbury Hospital

Following the lively discussion after meeting with Paula Sherriff MP, it was decided that we should think about the issues and meet again on 7th September to decide what to do. It is obvious that the majority of people are not happy with the changes to the provision at DDH. The news coming out of the North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group is that the 4% saving they have to find from this year's budget is going to be tough to achieve, yet with the rules as they are, balancing the books comes before patients needs. The N K Cinical Commissioning Group 'buys' the services at Dewsbury Hospital from Mid Yorkshire Hospital Trust, and the Care Closer to Home services from Locala, but there are 2 risks. The first is that Locala will not be ready on Ist October and the second is that the NK Commissioning Group will have to reduce its contract values, although how it can legally do that I do not know! How can we work with our MP to address these and other issues? The Care Closer to Home Contract means that Locala is supposed to provide services to reduce visits to A&E and admissions to hospital, but will it?