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Colchester: Walk in centre under threat
7:00am Wednesday 14th May 2008
Colchester's walk-in health centre is under threat again - less than two years after it was last saved.
Previous plans to move it further out of the town centre were shelved after objections from the public and a Gazette campaign.
But under new plans launched today by North East Essex Primary Care Trust the centre is once again facing relocation from the Octagon building in Middleborough to the Primary Care Centre in Turner Road.
It could form part of a new medical centre which will be open 365 days a year and includes the out-of-hours service.
An eight-week consultation has been launched asking residents for their views on the proposals.
At the end of March health bosses said they would wait until the new health centre planned for Turner Road was up and running before they would review services at the Middleborough centre. But this has now been over-ruled.
Barbara Williamson, of Colchester Pensioners' Action Group, said she was opposed to the closure of the Middleborough centre.
"I though the idea of a walk-in centre was for it to be convenient to get to?" She said.
"Turner Road is the most awkward place to get to by public transport, particularly at the weekend, and once you're there you might as well carry on to the hospital."
Users are being asked what they would like to see at the new centre.
Matt Bushell, director of strategic development and commissioning at the PCT, claimed the new centre will help to improve local services for people.
"The opening of this new health centre will, in our opinion, enable us to offer an improved walk-in service to that currently offered at Middleborough.
"It will be GP-led as opposed to nurse-led and will be located just down the road from the accident and emergency department at Colchester General Hospital, making transfer from one to the other easier for patients "In addition, the PCT now has the opportunity to rationalise its estate and vacate the Middleborough building in 2009, an opportunity which did not exist two years ago.
"We are also now able to offer a GP-led walk-in service, a significant advantage on two years ago when we were merely looking to relocate a nurse-led service."
Your Say YourColchester
Natalie, New Zealand says...
9:15am Wed 14 May 08
SC, says...
9:49am Wed 14 May 08
Ginsters Dragon, Wivenhoe says...
10:30am Wed 14 May 08
Tim Young Fan Club NOT!!!!!!!!, colchester says...
1:08pm Wed 14 May 08
Tim Young Must Resign, Colchester says...
1:27pm Wed 14 May 08
paula, Colchester says...
2:01pm Wed 14 May 08
liz, colchester says...
6:03pm Wed 14 May 08
No! I'm Spartacus, Colchester says...
6:32pm Wed 14 May 08
When it comes to Public Services there is such tightening of budgets that the Management are more interested in saving money than offering a good service.
I would imagine that this proposed 'better service' is another way of saving money by not needing to pay building rent at Middleborough....
Viv, Colchester says...
7:22pm Wed 14 May 08
1) Leave the walkin centre where it is at Middleborough.
2) Tim Young should resign as councillor.
Cliff, Colchester says...
7:47pm Wed 14 May 08
Jennifer Davies, Colchester says...
9:18am Thu 15 May 08
I say 'Move It'
Helen, Colchester says...
9:55am Thu 15 May 08
Keep the drop in centre at Middlebrough which is just a five minute walk from the North Hill Post Office.
jan schofield, walk in centre says...
10:32am today Thu 15 May 08
Mel, Colchester says...
11:21am Thu 15 May 08
If people have more serious injuries such as fractures they should be at the Accident and Emergency Department.
Keep the walkin centre where it is at Middleborough.
Finally I note that Councillor Young has responded to the first post on this matter. I can't say that I am surprised. He is running scared.
Keep the walkin centre where it is at Middleborough.
Bex, Colchester says...
1:11pm Thu 15 May 08
The Walk-In Centre is a valuable resource in its current location.
Given the building work and new school which is being built right by the hospital, it does not make sense to move the Walk-In Centre to an already congested area. Not only that, if the Walk-In Centre were to relocate to the hospital site, how many people would simply go to A&E, further overstretching an already undersized, understaffed and over-used facility!
Oh, hang on, maybe if people did use A&E, they could close the Walk-In Centre as they seem to be h3ll bent on doing anyway....
Rob, Colchester says...
3:32pm Thu 15 May 08
When you have to drive or bus there, then it's a drive-in or bus-in centre.
The current location is just right for the greatest number of people. It should not be moved.
All I heard on election night was everybody saying from Labour "we must listen to people".
It will be interesting to see what Mr Young's take on "listening to people" actually is. He'll listen to people all right but which ones? That is the question as Colchester Resident points out very well.
I am fascinated what Mr Young's new best mate Mr Hunt thinks of it. Probably something along the lines of telling everyone who wants walk-in centre to stay where it is, that they can "put that in your pipe and smoke it".
Martin Goss, Mile End, Colchester says...
5:02pm Thu 15 May 08
Firstly, why bother wasting money kitting it out (which all belongs to the taxpayer anyway)only to try and move it several years later
Secondly, what happened to the public consultation the NHS promised? Pretty much telling us it is going to move that is not consultation.
Thirdly, what are the business drivers for moving this - oh yes saving money.
Fourth - The NHS is meant to serve people.
Ex LibDem Voter, Colchester says...
5:39pm Thu 15 May 08
What is Martin Goss's point of view on councillors acting as Directors or Non Executive Directors on the boards of organisations like the Primary Care Trust and Colchester Borough Homes - where these councillors have to act in the best interests of the companies over and abve those of the people in their areas?
Keep the walk in centre at Middleborough.
Kirsty, Colchester says...
6:10pm Thu 15 May 08
This is a very very very stupid idea
martin hunt, Colchester says...
7:49pm Thu 15 May 08
John Heppers, Colchester says...
7:56pm Thu 15 May 08
Or alternatively relocate the walk-in centre at the shoe store building near the bus station which would be more accessible for more people from all parts of town. It would be centrally located and has the Priory St car park nearby.
Martin Goss, Mile End, Colchester says...
7:27am Fri 16 May 08
But the two organisations you mention are not commercial - they are public sector organisations - however still need the same goverance on the board.
There are rules policing conflict of interest to ensure people do carry out roles in the correct way.
For instance, a civil servant i.e. Policeman, Fireman etc cannot become an elected councillor as this is considered a conflict. They can once they retire or leave the service.
The same being where I cannot become a civil servant as I am an elected councillor.
So as long as all is above board and no conflict of interest - which the rules govern - then it is very common practice in the commercial and publlic service world for people to hold many different board posts.
Ex LibDem Voter, Colchester says...
9:14am Fri 16 May 08
Councillor Goss your answer does not even begin to answer the question.
Housing and health are two key areas of concern for the people of Colchester.
We have councillors sitting as Directors on the Boards of Housing Companies and Primary Care Trusts and as directors of these companies they are required to act act in the best interests of those companies over and above those of their constituents / local people.
I am not suggesting that councillors sitting on the Boards of these companies are involved in any wrong doing. I am simply saying that they cannot represent their voters 100% if they are directors on these comapnies because they are duty bound to act in the best interests of the company.
Councillors are elected to present the views of the people or so we are led to believe at election time. They are elected to act 100% in the best interests of the people. Councillors cannot and should not be allowed to sit on the Boards of these organisation if they are forbidden under the directorship rules to act in the best interests of the voters.
If for example I wanted to sue my Primary Care Trust for negligence and I wanted assistance from my local councillor, he or she could not give me any assistance because their directorship of the Primary Care Trust would prevent them - because they would not be acting in the best interests of the company if they assisted me.
This is a simple example of a conflict of interest.
I believe that councillors and other elected officials should not put themselves in such positions.
If you or any other councillor still feel that it is OK for councillors to act as directors of PCTs and organisations like Colchester Borough Homes - these councillors should consider their position and stand down as a councillors with immediate effect.
If you or any other councillor wants to be a director - go ahead - but please stand down as a counciilor - as there is a conflict of interest.
Martin Goss, Mile End, Colchester says...
10:24am Fri 16 May 08
If these were both commercial companies charged with making a profit and making shareholders rich, then I would agree that directors etc would always act in the interests of shareholders and the company.
However, both organisations are non-profit public sector organisations and are therefore not governed by turning a profit.
The NHS in particular now has residents who have become part of the boards that are run in which to govern how the NHS should deliver service.
I agree moving the walk-in centre will be perceived as a cost cutting exercise and a real loss to the community.
I agree thiss is a stupid decision and hopefully the residents who can voice their concerns for the community can deliver this message loud and clear.
This is not a council decision as you know and is purely driven via the NHS.
If you want to discuss further email me.
ANOTHER EX VOTER, Colchester says...
11:53am Fri 16 May 08
I agree with Ex LibDem Voter - there shouldn't be any councillors on the board of the PCT or Colchester Borough Homes. There is a clear conflict of interest. It's a pity that Councillor Goss and other councillors just doesn't seem to understand it from a voters point of view. That is why I am ANOTHER EX VOTER and one of the 65% who didn't vote at the last election.
Christine, Colchester says...
12:25pm Fri 16 May 08
Sally Langley, Colchester, Essex says...
1:00pm Fri 16 May 08
Martin Goss, Mile End, Colchester says...
2:09pm Fri 16 May 08
Non executive directors of any ilk tend to be there to voice their concerns , they do not necessarily have great batons of power and are there to potentially police what goes on.
Non-executive means just that i.e. not a lot of power if any.
EX LIB DEM VOTER, Colchester says...
3:14pm Fri 16 May 08
According to the Higgs Report, commissioned by the British Government and published in 2003:
Non-executive directors have responsibilities in the following areas -
Strategy: Non-executive directors should constructively challenge and contribute to the development of strategy.
Performance: Non-executive directors should scrutinise the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives and monitoring, and where necessary removing, senior management and in succession planning.
Non Executive Directors should also provide independent views on:
a) Resources
b) Appointments
c) Standards of conduct
Non-executive directors are the custodians of the governance process.
They are not involved in the day-to-day running of business but monitor the executive activity and contribute to the development of strategy.
Finally in the case of CBH the councillors are not non executive directors but excutive directors.
Rural View, Colchester says...
5:28pm Tue 20 May 08
martin hunt wrote:The Borough Council should be one of the Consultees, as they were in 2006, when Cllr. Nigel Chapman(Conservative
Seeing as someone asked, Mr Hunt thinks it should stay where it is, but as it is not a function of the borough council, he has no more say on the matter than anyone else.
), the then Portfolio holder, refused to endorse the move. So you will be able to put the Councils case for keeping the centre where it is. You may also ask why the Trust is having such a short consultation period when Department of Health guidance suggests a period of 12 weeks, not 8!
Gideon Smythe, Wivenhoe says...
1:51pm Wed 21 May 08
They are all at it. Until we the public actually start to make a fuss about it, they will carry on getting away with it.
Your sayYourColchester
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Colchester Resident, Colchester says...
7:36am Wed 14 May 08
After all isn't Labour supposed to be standing up for local people on these issues.
Unfortunatley Labour Councillor Tim Young is also a Non-Executive Director on the Board of North East Essex Primary Care Trust and as Non Executive Director of
this organisation - he is must act in the best interests of this organisation even above those of local people.
See link for details of Tim Young's Directorship at the PCT - http://www.northeast
essexpct.nhs.uk/abou
t_us/board.asp?board
Id=25
I suggest that Councillor Young must make a choice. Resign from the Primary Care Trust or resign his position as being a Colchester councillor.
Labour Councillor Young cannot be allowed to continue to represent a PCT when it is acting against the wishes of a large group of people that he and his Labour party claims to represent.
I agree with Barbara Williamson, of Colchester Pensioners' Action Group and I believe the Walk In Centre should remain at Middleborough.
Where does Councillor Labour Councilor Tim Young and his Labour colleagues stand on the issue?