TCI commentary:
The Institute has been advocating consultor and media partnership in consultation for a long time. Where media is prepared to be objective and has the mindset for corporate social responsibility, they can be a force for good in working with public bodies and others that need to consult the public, in creating the mediums and opportunities for people to discuss and debate the best solutions to problems that we all share. The Institute has met with Isle of Wight CCG on a few occasions and we applaud their progressive approach to public involvement. Likewise, the Isle of Wight County Press and Isle of Wight Radio.
Article:
HEALTH bosses will be quizzed on the future of St Mary’s Hospital at a ‘question time’ style event hosted by the Isle of Wight County Press and Isle of Wight Radio.
Members of the public, politicians and community groups will be able to have their say at the event, which will be held at Cowes Enterprise College on Monday, June 11.
The County Press and Isle of Wight Radio will be covering the event live, and questions can be submitted in advance or on the night via social media.
Following a recommendation by the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), 11 per cent of St Mary’s Hospital services look set to be transferred to the mainland within three to five years.
More patients requiring urgent or specialist care could be treated off-Island, while routine procedures currently carried out at mainland hospitals could be brought back to St Mary’s.
Isle of Wight CCG director of strategy and partnerships, Gillian Baker, said: “We know issues of healthcare, and particularly the role to be played by St Mary’s Hospital, are of great concern to our local community. We are looking forward to a full and frank debate with people who are as passionate about the NHS as we are.
“With demand for health and care increasing as the Island’s elderly population grows in number, often living with more complex, longer term health needs, local services are struggling to provide access to the quality of care across all services that Islanders should expect to receive. Added to this, the well documented challenges around recruitment and constrained budgets mean that a different approach is needed if services are to be sustainable for Island residents into the future.
“The local media have an important role to play as the eyes and ears of local people and we are very pleased the County Press and Isle of Wight Radio have agreed to come and act as impartial and objective hosts at a discussion on a topic that is of considerable local interest.”
The event will see a panel of clinicians and other experts take questions about the plans, ahead of a formal public consultation in 2019.
They will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and limited to two per person.
They will be available from the Isle of Wight County Press, at Pyle Street, Newport, and from Isle of Wight Radio, at Dodnor Park, Newport.
Questions can be submitted ahead of the event by emailing questions@iwcp.co.uk or NHS@iwradio.co.uk
Following the event, a series of drop in sessions will be held across the Isle of Wight during June, where people can meet with clinicians, ask questions and share their views.
Steve Parker, clinical lead for the redesign of hospital services, said: “We hope this series of events will provide a useful forum for people to engage with us and have a full and proper discussion about why these changes are needed and how the current proposals might work.
“It’s important for people to realise that no decisions have been made yet, these are still only proposals and we are listening and welcome people’s thoughts and views to help us shape our thinking further.”
Article originally appeared on Isle of Wight County Press
The Institute cannot confirm the accuracy of this story or confirm that it presents a balanced view. If you feel this is inaccurate we would welcome your perspective and evidence that this is the case.
