Editorial - June 2003
This issue:
Summer is here and the exams are nearly over! However, although the tempo of academic life slows at this time of year the Med.Chi Website will continue, albeit in slightly modified form, during the summer months.
Our thanks:
The site has now been operating for 8 months. The Society wishes to publicly thank our contributors most warmly. A list is given in this months issue. We have already covered a number of important topics and more will follow throughout the year. Contributions are stored in the Archive Section.
Hospices in Bristol:
St Peters Hospice has now been in existence for 25 years. Our warm congratulations to all concerned on having done such a magnificent job. Hopefully, a childrens hospice will be built within the next few years filling a major gap in services for those who are terminally ill. We must ensure that the 2 hospices are not in financial conflict. Both are essential for Bristol.
The Department of Social Medicine:
We are pleased to publish a short article by David Gunnell from the Department of Social Medicine. The Department is one of the jewels in the crown of Bristol University regularly achieving a 5-star research rating.
Car parking at the BRI nil points!
The lack of car parking space at the BRI for patients has been a running sore for many years. Now the NCP site in Dighton Street is to be developed (more offices!) and about 100 car parking spaces, frequently used by visitors to the BRI, have disappeared. What provision for the loss of these spaces has been made? Did anyone notice? Does anyone care?
Hospitals in Bristol:
Your editors have received no reply from the Strategic Health Authority to the invitation contained in the May issue of the Website. Hopefully, some information will be forthcoming shortly and we will report on this in the July issue.
Community Health Council
Community Health Councils (known as the CHAs) were due to disappear in September (their demise has been threatened for at least 2 years). They have now been given a further 3 months reprieve and will finally disappear in December 2003. We hope to publish details of how the public interest in health matters in Bristol will be represented in future. Watch this space.
Have a marvellous summer!
R Langton Hewer Joint Editor.