‘Time to Take Healthwatch Medway Seriously!’
Dear Residents, As you will know Medway Foundation Trust remains in special measures having been deemed inadequate by the CQC. For all of us who live in Medway and who use the hospital the findings in the report are worrying and show the need for many serious questions to be asked. Healthwatch Medway collects feedback from staff and patients every month at the hospital and so whilst the findings may be disappointing, sadly some of them do not come as a surprise. This report follows a series of bad press about the hospital and, as a result, over the weekend since the findings became public we have heard from a number of residents who are beginning to fret and worry about the quality of care and, of course, the future of our hospital. I would urge residents not to panic. The people of Medway deserve the highest level of care available and we are constantly told by patients about the great care that they receive from staff. What is important to the people of Medway is that they do not lose this valuable asset. The priority for us at Healthwatch Medway is in ensuring that residents attending the hospital feel safe and receive a good quality of care and this will be the case whatever happens in the future. Over the past 2 years Healthwatch Medway has offered to work with the hospital to support them in a number of ways. We believe that we now need to see an independent body, such as Healthwatch Medway, working to provide services such as staff and patient feedback to ensure that the hospital can make the necessary steps toward improvement. I will be looking to meet with Lesley Dwyer and Shena Winning to repeat that offer – it is time for the hospital to accept that they need help and to reach out and work with us so that the people of Medway receive the care that they deserve. Healthwatch Medway operates as the voice of patients throughout the Medway towns. We are always keen to hear the views of patients and residents throughout Medway and, at a time of great concern about our hospital this is a more important role than ever. We want to hear from you about your experiences. Please feel free to contact us by calling 01634 566777, by emailing info@medwayhealthwatch.co.uk or you can find out more about us by visiting our twitter @HWatchMedway or our website: http://www.healthwatchmedway.co.uk/. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you to give you, the people of Medway, the health services that you deserve. Yours sincerely, Cath Foad Chair Healthwatch Medway
