Press Releases for 2005
ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES
4th March 2005Dr Geoff Meaden, Green Party Candidate for Canterbury, is calling for an all-Party campaign within the East Kent area to increase access to health care. Recent changes in the distribution of services and access to hospital beds mean more people travelling out of their own community in search of health services. Dr Meaden comments:
"Do you want to go from Folkestone to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, only to find that the tests you need will only be provided at the Kent and Canterbury? Will your family members be able to visit you where you are in hospital, or are you going to be too far away because their work or childcare commitments make visiting difficult? Do you feel annoyed that the minor operation you need cannot be provided at your local Hospital causing you to have to go to Buckland in Dover instead? And heaven help young people from Canterbury urgently needing 24 hour Accident and Emergency services at Ashford. The shortage of GPs and dentists in expanding Ashford means the William Harvey's A&E is frequently blocked by people who do not have access to basic health care in their own community! "Arguments for reductions in beds, or centralisation of Hospital departments, are causing problems all over the East Kent area. We have rising population throughout Kent and a need for adequate hospital services. The various campaigns for the protection of health care services(1) in East Kent need to join up in a common effort to protect our interests." ENDS c254 words
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Geoff Meaden on 01227 456806. Contact address as above. Dr Meaden is a Senior Lecturer in Geography at Canterbury Christ Church University College. Notes: 1. Particularly CHEK and the campaign to protect Intermediate Care beds and wards in the Folkestone area.
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