ST
JOHN’S - WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
Without
an increase in the population served by the
hospital (its ‘catchment ‘area)
it will be difficult for St John’s to
justify retaining acute services in the long
term. This is partly due to the reduction in
junior doctors’ hours, which will take
place in August 2009. Health Boards across Scotland
will be forced to concentrate acute services
on fewer hospital sites.
Despite a promise made in the autumn of 2004,
Lothian Health has failed to deliver an increase
in catchment size (‘rezoning’) for
St John’s. No surprises there, as they
also failed to keep their written promise to
consult the public prior to withdrawal of surgery
and trauma orthopaedics.
Moreover,
the Health Board is withdrawing services from
St John’s which would be required to cope
with an increased catchment area. And finally,
Lothian Health is already in discussion with
Forth Valley Health Board as to which West Lothian
patients can be moved to the new PFI hospital
at Larbert which is scheduled to open…..….in
2009!!
If
there is no increase in the catchment area then
which acute services might disappear for ever?
INTENSIVE
CARE UNIT (ITU)
CORONARY CARE UNIT (CCU)
MEDICAL UNIT
OBSTETRICS
MATERNITY
CHILDREN’S WARD
ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY
This
is the last chance for the people of West Lothian,
acting together and putting aside any traditional
party loyalties, to save their hospital. If
we fail, then we will lose all acute services
and be left with the best 9 to 5 daycase unit
in the country!
The
St John’s which we were bequeathed by
the war generation (born from Bangour) will
cease to exist as we know it. All emergency
patients in West Lothian will be transported
to Edinburgh or Larbert.
However, an Independent Hospital MSP for Livingston
and Independent Hospital Councillors will fight
to retain all acute services, enhance the catchment
area and return services which have been lost.
They will also press for car parking charges
(the tax on the sick) to be frozen and then
withdrawn.
ST.
JOHN’S NEEDS YOU
