The Stop the Downgrade Campaign

Working to reinstate St. John's Hospital Livingston as an Acute Emergency Hospital

St. John's, the heartbeat of Livingston

 

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THE STOP THE DOWNGRADE CAMPAIGN - DOWNGRADING, THE FACTS

Let us deal with the constant, repetitive claims made by politicians and NHS Lothian that they are investing in St. John’s and not downgrading it. Why don’t you decide?

Compare & Contrast


Here is a list of procedures / services which used to be carried out at St. John’s but which have now been WITHDRAWN and are now only available / sited in Edinburgh (RIE or WGH). In a separate document we will list other services which will be threatened once the May 3rd election has passed (see link below).


ACUTE SURGERY - including...Appendix, Gall Bladder,
and Urology includes Kidney stones and Bladder Surgery
Colorectal (bowel surgery)


TRAUMA ORTHOPEDICS - including...Fractured Hip,
Hip replacement, Broken Bones


MORTUARY SERVICES - including...Post Mortems, Accident retrievals,
Sudden/suspicious death retrievals


MAJOR INCIDENT STATUS - The ability to deal with all aspects of ANY major incident within the district i.e. Air crashes, major traffic accidents, explosions etc.


MANAGEMENT – Decisions now made in Edinburgh (often to try and solve the Health Board’s huge deficit)


PATHOLOGY – from Thurs 15th Feb 2007 all specimens are transported to RIE/WGH and reported from there. Specimens are sent on by lab van. Frozen section cases need to be notified well in advance to pathology RIE.


They say that this is not downgrading services – WE SAY IT IS


The following is what they say represents investment to secure the future. Note that the simplest investment of all – an increased catchment area – has still not been delivered! Why not?


“NEW” Renal Dialysis Unit – the “New” unit opened 30.01.2005. It is not fully staffed and closes with no evening sessions available (which is commonplace in most fully functioning Units). This is another 9-5 service. Failure to invest in staff, etc means that this unit is not operating to its full capacity with the result that there is a waiting list for dialysis slots. In other words, some patients from West Lothian STILL travel to ERI for dialysis.


Mental Health Mother and Baby Unit – This is in fact a WARD - previously ward 16. This has ALWAYS been a psychiatric ward! It has simply been adapted to provide beds for mums with postnatal depression and their babies.


ENT – (sometimes referred to as Head & Neck) Always been available at St. John’s not a new service. Again this is ELECTIVE surgery. Why give us Head & Neck when they are taking away our Heart and Soul?


“New” Observation Ward – This “New” Ward is effectively the old daybed area which has been renamed. This is a place to “collect” patients and monitor them, sometimes whilst they await transfer to Edinburgh hospitals (centralisation) or simply to minimize trolley waits in A&E and keep within the 4 hour target.


Is this major investment?

Does this mean stability?

Does this guarantee a long term future for St John’s as an acute hospital?


WE SAY NO - BUT YOU DECIDE !!

Remember the Roll call of shame here

 
   
The Stop the Downgrade Campaign Aims and Objectives
   
How to complain to NHS Lothian - complaints made easy
   
Downgraded or not? here are the facts about the services which have been removed from St. John's and the supposed 'new' services added
   
What does the future hold for St. John's? What else is under threat?