In 2017, Bassetlaw petitioned, marched, and campaigned against what became an unstoppable decision to close the Children’s ward at nighttime and weekends. Following the retirement of the two Paediatric Consultants and the failure to recruit replacements it was unsafe to keep the ward open 24/7 and sick children and their families were faced with long journeys to Doncaster and beyond.
Nobody wanted this, I helped coordinate the campaign but behind the scenes I knew that the then Member of Parliament, John Mann and the hospital were actively looking for solutions. They came up with a plan to shift the children’s ward adjacent to the A&E where there are consultants on a full-time basis. It needed money and John accessed £17.6m funds via the then Prime Minister, Theresa May.
It has taken time, Westminster bureaucracy and Covid got in the way, but I was delighted to participate in the ribbon cutting last week as the building was handed over from the contractors and the fit out of beds and equipment now begins. It was a great pleasure to visit the Bassetlaw Emergency Village. It is a pivotal moment for the local area, bringing state of the art emergency department to Bassetlaw.
More needs to be done – whilst children are there, they need to be comfortable and relaxed. Funds need to be found for accessible play equipment in the outside children’s play area alongside TV’s, books, consoles and toys. I am supporting the fundraising appeal and I hope you will be able to as well. There is a target of £100,000 and only £28,000 has been raised so far. You can support the appeal by donating £10 by texting 70085 and typing “BEVAPPEAL”
Even better news for Bassetlaw Hospital was the announcement last week by Wes Streeting, Health and Social Care Secretary, that a crack team is going into the hospital to get our theatres open seven days a week with a production style process to tackle waiting lists. I want people to be able to get off benefits and back into work – this is essential if we are to improve local health and wellbeing.
