Cllr Geoff Heathcock

Considerable anxiety over the provision of a Private Hospital facility on an NHS site

geoffheathcock — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:53:03 +0000

Geoff who is a former Vice Chairman of the Cambridge Community Health Council and Health Spokesman for his Party on the County Council – has expressed considerable misgivings over the need for there to be a Private Hospital built on the Addenbrookes Hospital site – questioning both the need and the ethics that lie behind the plan. Addenbrookes is the key District General Hospital for Mid and South Cambridgeshire is already expanding – why should a Private facility be provided on the same site – which will draw Consultant expertise and likely drain off other clinical staff i am not in the least happy about this and fear for the proper staffing and quality that the main Hospital requires ongoing. We all appreciate that financial problems are probably driving this project – but it should not overtake the premise of Health care being provided free at the point of delivery – which lies at the bedrock of the NHS.

Future of the former Pub site is a matter of some concern

geoffheathcock — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:50:53 +0000

Geoff has made contact with the Planning Department at the City Council to get some update with regards to future use of the now closed pub “The Queen Ediths” on Wulfstan Way which has been out of use since the beginning of the year, is boarded up and the entrances all blocked off with large builders’ bags. It is not at all helpful that the months are ticking by and we have had no definitive news as to future occupation of the building. I certainly want to see movement soon rather than have a potential eyesore in the centre of the ward. i shall continue to monitor the situation.

Geoff concerned at Health Boss leaving so soon

geoffheathcock — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:47:22 +0000

Geoff who has had a keen interest in Mental Health Service delivery in the County over many years has expressed his dismay that a recently appointed Senior manager at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust who only started work in February has left! The new Executive Nurse and Director of Operations repla ced the retiring Director and had shown a particularly good feel for the needs of the Service and was discussing with Geoff how he might play a future role alongside Carers. It only goes to show how bad things are at this Trust – that Barbara has gone already, devastating for the Service and its development.

BAD WEATHER is hindering the start of highway repairs

geoffheathcock — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:44:52 +0000

Geoff has sought assurances from County Highways officers that as soon as the present bad weather ceases – a very long list of repairs he has given them will commence across the ward. It is deeply annoying that a range of work which has been agreed to be carried out – has now hit another problem the weather. i AM Hopeful that the rain will stop for a while in order for essential pavement and road repairs to start. I will be monitoring the situation closely.

Unjust and Unfair to cut the wages of NHS Staff depending on where they work

geoffheathcock — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:42:14 +0000

Geoff as a former Health spokesman for his Party in the County has criticised a plan which is apparently endorsed by Health Secretary and South Cambs MP – that could see NHS workers across the board have their wages cut and frozen if they live in a low wage area of the Cou ntry. These folk are not only subject to yet another massive re-organisation which was not sought in the last General Election – but ensure that when we need care and support in Hospital or Community that a Service is delivered, why on earth should they see their hard fought conditions of service shattered in order to meet low wages in the Private Sector?

If MP’s think this really is the way to run a Major Public Service perhaps they would think it appropriate to see their £66k plus package cut in deprived Counties of the Country like Cornwall and Cumbria – i somehow feel that MP’s in those Counties would fight back to keep their lucrative packages!

Unsatisfactory answers on lack of progress with South Area Parking Review

geoffheathcock — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:38:16 +0000

Geoff has now received a more detailed response as to why the South Cambridge Area parking Review has stalled. He had written to Senior Managers in Transport to ascertain what was happening with the proposals being issed for consultation with the wider Public, a timetable for implementation and some clarify over the level of resources. Sadly in the first instance all i received was the usual excuses as to why nothing had been heard since February and no indication as to when we might see real and meaningful headway being made.

A Senior Manager has now responded that due to budget and staffing cuts – the programme is running a little behind but that Councillors will see a draft plan very shortly – then it will go out for wider Public Discussion late Summer.

Considerable worry being caused by a late attack of sickness at Addenbrookes

geoffheathcock — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 10:46:52 +0000

The arrival of a double sickness bug at Addenbrookes which has caused the closure of nine wards, severely impacting on both patients and staff – and in due course no doubt a problem for those waiting surgery is deeply concerning at a time when the Hospital Authorities are looking to review the cleaning contract at the Hospital – which could threaten both quality of cleanliness but perhaps more importantly the ability to ensure that bugs are kept too an absolute minimum by high quality attention.

Geoff in his Health Scrutiny role continues to monitor events at Addenbrookes and cautions any outside pressure in saving money to hit the range and impact of having a good quality set of measures in place to tackle hospital borne infections.

Geoff continues to press for answers on the South Cambridge Area Parking Review

geoffheathcock — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 10:42:03 +0000

Despite a number of sadly mis-informed comments contained in leaflets currently going around the ward – Geoff as the Queen Ediths representative on the Forum of local people continues to press both the City and the County Council to get on and produce the long promised “draft plan” of action with a range of options to tackle the nightmare which is the Overflow parking from both the Hospital, local research facilities and indeed Sixth Form Colleges both on Hills Road and Long Road – and only in the last few days has he penned another letter to Senior Managers at the County Counci(as the Highway Authority) pressing for clarification on timetable and an indication when details will be ready too be shared by residents in the Division.

It is extremely unhelpful for another Party to be suggesting that “things are not being done” to deal with this longstanding nuisance, it has been, continues to be and will be for as long as i have the ability to chase Officers for Answers in what in the end is a Conservative run County Council.

Geoff expresses regret that Primary Care Trust go ahead with savings within Mental Health Services

geoffheathcock — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:54:55 +0000

Geoff who has been an outspoken critic of Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust and its funding of Mental Health Services has expressed his regret – that the PCT Board just rubber stamped proposals which will see acute wards permanently closed, other wards amalgamated and savings overall of in excess of £14 million agreed in the coming three years. Many many folk across the County spoke out against the proposals and expressed worries about replacement services not least those in the Community which are expected to pick up the slack and prevent HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS in a number of communities served by Fulbourn and Huntingdon(which now looses its in house provision) Where will the extra people or time come from to ensure safe delivery of service and access to services in the evenings and weekends, not everyone has transport and the provision from some districts is appalling after 5pm in the afternoon.

I believe the Non Executive Directors of the PCT have let people down and should have held out for a better settlement rather than just voting with the recommendations, a sad day for our County and an even sadder day for those who are vulnerable and ill.

Warning of serious infection issues if cuts made to quality of cleaning

geoffheathcock — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:48:20 +0000

Geoff as a former Health spokesman for his Party in the County and the County Councillor for the area covered by Addenbrookes’ Hospital has warned that any attempt in saving money – to reduce the number and effectiveness of contarct cleaners will almost certainly see in house infection rates climb and that simply cannot be acceptable in the 21st century in what is still regarded as a wealthy economy – in spite of its current recesssional issues. Patients going into Hospital face enough trauma as it is – the possibility of then seeing basic services reduced which enable their safety is absolutely wrong and must be challenged all the way.