Consultation taken to Birmingham News

It appears that the Trust has taken out a two-page advert in the Birmingham News, the free newspaper that is dropped through doors across Birmingham on Thursdays, regarding the proposed changes to healthcare in Sandwell and the West of Birmingham. The article gives a brief explanation of the two consultations that are currently taking place, Towards 2010: Investing in a Healthy Future and Shaping Hospital Services for the Future on the first page (page 24), with the actual consultation documents printed on page 25.

Whilst these efforts to raise awareness of the proposed changes should be applauded, it is worth noting that at the meeting organised by the Birmingham Mail many people said they had seen the consultation documents before but were unsure what the implications were.

Those of us who are concerned in particular with the interim plans proposed in Shaping Hospital Services for the Future should consider writing to the Birmingham News outlining the potential problems with the plans to remove emergency general & trauma surgery and paediatric beds from the City site. Their e-mail address is birmingham_news@mrn.co.uk, or they can be snail mailed at The Birmingham News, Letters, Weaman Street, Birmingham, B4 6AT.