bep = Bristol Evening Post and figures indicate the day and month article published
New delay of at least 6 months as Council has fallen behind schedule with its proposals Editorial bep 25 June urges action by cutting corners or red tape to ensure this gets built. Dr G Badger and staff at the Whitchurch Health Centre urge political leaders to sort out their differences over the plans for the hospital bep 20 July.
Deputy leader of South Gloucester Council wrote to the Health Secretary asking him to write off the £49m debt owed by the Trust. A spokesman for the Dept of Health said that this was not possible bep30 June
The government stated that the North Bristol NHS Trust has been successful in its bid to secure funding of £310m to revolutionise health care in the area and that there will be a public consultation. Bep July 28
Over thelast year two of the hospital trusts have improved their star rating. United Bristol Healthcare Trust has now 2 stars, making it one of the most improved NHS hospital trusts in England. North Bristol NHSTrust has one star but Weston has no stars as is the situation with the Avon Ambulance Trust. The PCTs have two stars as has the Avon Mental Health Partnership. Bep July 21.
Dr JohnHughes-Games, a much loved GP from South Bristol died recently and left £1500 to clean the windows of the Oncology Centre. This request achieved national prominence after the Evening Post article Bep 5 Aug
Photographson the front page of the Evening Post showed a cockroach, an empty drinks carton in place over 3 days and discarded mops, claim to illustrate the state of the BRI. The editorial said ‘with fears over the spread of antibiotic resistant superbugs, there is no excuse for poor standards of hygiene’. Bep 9 Aug
Prof Gareth Williams, Dean of Medicine at the University was reported as writing that current education reforms in medical schools will have dire consequences for patients and the future of medicine. He was particularly critical of problem based learning. Bep July 9.
Bristol University is having to admit 50 more medical students than it was expecting because so many more achieved the grades that were demanded. This will cause major difficulty bep Sept 3.
A Joint Health Committee agreed to concentrate services on Frenchay hospital and to close the Southmead A&E department and convert it into a Minor Injuries Unit without the need for public consultation. An editorial approved the councillors’ decision. Bep Aug 4.
A £1.4mbuilding has been opened for research and education into the treatment of urinary illness in the grounds of Southmead Hospital.bep 6 Aug
More than1000 relatives and carers of patients have joined a campaign against the proposed closure of two wards that look after patients with dementia. The Trust said that the option of closing these wards has already been discounted. Bep Aug 5
A new strategy is being developed for dealing with patients with mental illness by South Gloucester Social Service department and all with interest in this area are asked to make their case. Bep 25 June
The cost of paying for this service is going to have a significant impact on PCT budgets. The current payment of £6K to each GP for providing this care will be insufficient to pay for it when the PCT takes over shortly. Bep 10 Aug
Michael Whitfield
Co-editor