Good morning everyone
In
case you may have missed the story, Donald Trump is the new President
of the United States and hundreds of thousands of people
(predominately women according to reports) have marched in protest,
in towns and cities around the world. The inauguration ceremony was
watched by either 250,000 people who braved the intermittent rain in
Washington or "by the largest audience ever to watch an
inauguration, PERIOD".
The Whitehouse Press Secretary Sean Spicer seems to be an excitable little chap who promises more "gems" over the rest of his time in front of the assembled media. Meanwhile, the rest of us look forward to the next four years with mild anticipation, or do I mean trepidation?
Our NHS is in crisis with chronic overcrowding in many hospitals and reports of A&E facilities in many areas of the verge of collapse. It may therefore come as something of a surprise to learn that yet another CCG is recommending more hospital closures in their areas. This time the South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group is proposing that Ashburton, Bovey Tracey, Dartmouth and Paignton hospital be shut and the sites sold off "for development". As in all the other cases, the South Devon and Torbay CCG justification for the closure's is encased in the usual clichés of "improving services" and controlling costs. The CCG states,
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The Whitehouse Press Secretary Sean Spicer seems to be an excitable little chap who promises more "gems" over the rest of his time in front of the assembled media. Meanwhile, the rest of us look forward to the next four years with mild anticipation, or do I mean trepidation?
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Our NHS is in crisis with chronic overcrowding in many hospitals and reports of A&E facilities in many areas of the verge of collapse. It may therefore come as something of a surprise to learn that yet another CCG is recommending more hospital closures in their areas. This time the South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group is proposing that Ashburton, Bovey Tracey, Dartmouth and Paignton hospital be shut and the sites sold off "for development". As in all the other cases, the South Devon and Torbay CCG justification for the closure's is encased in the usual clichés of "improving services" and controlling costs. The CCG states,
"In making these recommendations, the Governing
Body is being advised that the proposals will deliver the changes
needed to improve services and to support more people effectively in
a way that is both sustainable and affordable."
Remember
that "closing hospitals improves services and reduces costs",
the next time that you or someone you know has an 80 mile (or more)
round trip to see a consultant or visit a patient, or even worse, has
urgent need of A & E facilities.
While
on the subject of the NHS, Dorset
Healthcare (DHUFT) last year spent £12 million on private
agency personnel
because
there were not enough full time NHS nurses and other staff to cover
hospital requirements. If only a fraction of the CGC's around the
country spent the same amount on temporary staff, a staggering £2,508
million would be paid to private agency companies.
Perhaps
it would "improve services and reduced costs" if we
recruited
full time and paid
our NHS nurses and other staff a proper salary in the first place.
A
convicted murderer has gone on the run for a third time after
breaking his licence conditions.
The police have warned people "
not to
approach
him, as he could present a risk to the public, but immediately
contact Dorset Police on 999."
The question of course is that if this man is a risk to the public,
why is he wandering about the streets out on licence? The judiciary
and the powers that be have a very strange view on custodial
sentencing.
Meanwhile,
back in Jersey, further investigation is to be undertaken at the
Grouville
field where the world’s biggest Celtic coin hoard was discovered
in 2012.
70,000
coins, a range of gold necklaces
and
ancient pouches have
been recovered from the find and more treasures are anticipated from
further work at the site.
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JERSEY’S
business leaders are due to meet the Chief Minister next week as
concerns grow that firms could be hit with import and export tariffs
post-Brexit. In
a statement, the Chamber said: ‘The Jersey Chamber of Commerce is
closely monitoring Brexit developments following on from Theresa
May’s speech on Wednesday regarding the UK government’s plans to
negotiate new trade deals and tariffs, proposals which could have a
considerable impact on Island businesses."
Jersey
business leaders are worried about Brexit! Aren't we all.
The
weather remains predictably unpredictable. This week we have had fog,
frost, rain sunshine, the coldest day (and night) of the winter so
far and on other days, temperatures in double figures. The Express
however continues to predict heavy snow coming!
The
most accurate way to obtain a weather situation report is to look out
of your window.
Have
a nice week.
John
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