“We have been evicted from our own hospital” says councillor

Coun Charmaine Morgan says…

The changes imposed on Grantham and District Hospital in June have had a profound affect on our services and our patients. We have been essentially evicted from our own hospital. 

ULHT and other NHS decision makers need to know we are not just statistics and we will not be quiet about what they have done to us. Our pain, suffering, anxiety and lives are as important as any other in Lincolnshire and outside. We must have our services restored. 

I have been monitoring the impact of the loss of services at Grantham and District Hospital in my capacity as a local councillor and Chair SOS Grantham Hospital. 

 I am collating a report to identify how local people within the GDH catchment area have been affected by the change. 

Anyone affected may contact me on 07398 156296 or email charmaineMorgan50@gmail.com to submit their experience of using GDH before the changes and since. 

A form is being produced to ensure we capture as much relevant information as possible. All voices are important and will help build a picture. 

NB form to follow shortly.Letter to Andrew Morgan below. 
Dear Andrew
Thank you for your response below. I prefer to steer away from personal matters although I appreciate the concerns raised. 
Writing in my capacity as a local Councillor and hospital campaigner,  I have considerable experience designing change management processes and scrutinising them. 
As a former Project manager/Change manager and Business Improvement Consultant I am particularly interested in the work undertaken by ULHT or on behalf of ULHT in preparation for the change prior to removing key services from GDH. 
There must have been considerable impact analysis and tactical/short term process design with associated risk assessments behind the strategic decision to make so many changes to so many services, affecting so many patients, at GDH. 
This is especially given your strategy requires the need to deliver a significant part of our community’s health care across 1.a number of alternative sites2.for a wide range of patients – age, mobility, disability, income etc3.with a wide range of medical conditions4.with a wide range of acuity
as a result of the strategic decision you took to temporarily remove so many services. 
The multiple visits to outpatients that Richard must now make cross county reflect other feedback I have received including cancer patients, who ULHT are supposed to be helping. 
Your document implied a number of scenarios were considered but it is a very high level strategic document. 
Implementing change, the devil’s in the detail and important issues may not emerge until the operational processes are considered. 
When ULHT made the decision to halt most Outpatient treatment at GDH what low level/detailed processes and procedures were in place to support the change 11 June? 
How many patients did ULHT consider would be required to travel : A. For first appointments
B. subsequent appointments overall  B. how many estimated follow up appointments and subsequent appointments were taken into account broken down into each department affected?
Patient needs will vary department to department. 
C. ScansHow many also require subsequent scans? One off? Repeatedly thought course of treatment? 
How many people from Grantham, and, wider cross county catchment area, must travel  to Boston or Lincoln for scans?
What are the average waiting times for scan appointments? What is the worst waiting time? For what condition? 
How many scans have been completed at Grantham since the change? 
I have heard that there is, not surprisingly an issue emerging with scans. Patients could walk into Grantham with a GP referral. Now they must book a slot at Lincoln/ Boston / elsewhere.  There are issues with availability of appointments at Lincoln.

D. Patient impact
For each of the outpatient departments affected please describe the end to endA. referral process B. treatmentC follow up
For adultsFor children 
EquipmentGiven you state the changes are temporary please advise what equipment has been removed from GDH and where it has gone? 
A&E Performance impactPlease advise what the impact has been on A&E performance at Lincoln and Boston since changes made? 
Medical bedsPlease advise how many medical beds were available across ULHT before the change? Now? 
Please breakdown by hospital GDHBostonLincolnLouthPrivate

I note Moy Park have stepped in and offered ULHT a site to use for some outpatient work. Can you clarify when the offer was made? Do ULHT have a contract with Moy Park, if so for how long? 
What other sites has ULHT found as alternatives to GDH? 
How long are the contracts for? 
Case 1I have one gentleman with pancreatic cancer who says his treatment is just starting. He now has to undertake monthly trips to Lincoln for phlebotomy. 
Prior to the change he had a short trip 15mins to Grantham GDH. He cannot self isolate because his home is too small and he lives with family. This may well also be true of others. He says he can cope with the journey now but does not think that will be the case further down the line. 
Case 2I have had contact from a single parent Mum with a grammar school 13 Yr old boy and an 11 Yr old girl. She works in a local school herself. It is extremely difficult to get time off during term time. 
She is on a low income and cannot afford the additional petrol costs.
Her 13 Yr old son had just started a course of orthodontic treatment. Before your changes he would take an hour out of school accompanied by mum who could take a block of time off before returning to work. 
Now a half hour orthodontic appointment costs her family… 
1 x day off work Petrol to Lincoln & backParking charges (due to restart) at Lincoln Hospital . Her 11 Yr old daughter has to take a day off school too because she has no one who can help childminder her. When she first got to Lincoln she discovered the one child only rule. She fears having to leave her 11 Yr old on her own in a corridor while she goes in with her son. 
Her  family will have to repeat this monthly. 
If they can keep it up. 
One child only ruleI suspect created with good intent, the one child only rule at Lincoln discriminates against single parents or those with a second child/adult who cannot be left alone ie with learning difficulties  suffering adhd etc 
 I believe ulht must urgently review this policy
What provision is in place at Lincoln and Boston to provide a safe space for children whose parents/ siblings are attending an appointment? 
 I have only just started to collect recent experiences and will be compiling a report. As you can see a number of issues are already emerging,
I understand some staff from Grantham were moved elsewhere. How many were moved temporarily? Have been given /offered new contracts to move? 
ULHT must act now and restore services. 
I intend to provide a summary report when I have more information. 

I look forward to your reply. 
Best regards Charmaine