A blog about Wirral Council, Wirral Council's councillors & officers

Cllr Boult said he had had a major operation with a referral to clinic in three months time. However it had been cancelled. However he had been due to see a consultant within a certain time, the appointment had been made for April 1st, but been put back by ten weeks. When it was cancelled or people had emergency operations what were the timescales? He had been told there were no timescales and it was lucky dip.

The woman from the NHS said to call it a lucky dip was unfair. Cllr Boult said the secretary had twenty people and had been told to pick the nearest date. Margaret Shaunessy said that cases were either categorised as urgent or routine and this was decided by the consultant, not the secretary on their own. Cllr Boult said with the amount of people going to the clinic who had had cancelled appointments he felt sorry for the GPs. Cllr Ellis said it was personal. Margaret Shaunessy said they had targets regarding outpatients, however it was hard not to cancel. There was a strict protocol regarding referrals and there were set times in which patients should be seen.

A member of the public said when their husband was ill, the hospital had suggested she bring him by car rather than ambulance. She could lift him well enough inside the hospital but there was nobody on reception. The paramedic had tried to find one. The two wheelchairs were padlocked all there was at reception was a phone.

Margaret said it was unfortunate and that there should always be someone on reception, she asked which day it was?

The answer given was that they had become a hyperacute stroke unit. The key issue with strokes was time. They now have 24/7 access to imaging which was vital to do before thrombolytic agents were used as they had to know whether it was a clot or bleeding. There was the TIARA service for Transient Ischemic Attacks and they were following the NICE guidelines. Care was given within 24 hours.

John Parr said they had waited for 30 hours and asked what happened regarding follow up and accountability? The person from the NHS said an audit was made for each patient regarding time and processes which was reported back to the National Stroke Association. There were constant ongoing evaluations, monthly meetings and re-evaluations. She hoped there were no further outliers. Cllr Ellis said there was a complaints procedure.

She said they need to act on feedback and there were examples of patient journeys. John Parr said once they got to hospital it was pretty good, but there were failings, he asked if the audit was available for patients to read? she said she was not sure. He also asked how soon it would be for separate rooms for geriatric patients? She said it was a constant problem that they were working on and moving forward om. They were committed to privacy and dignity and were working hard. There were no mixed sex wards as there were separate facilities however this was a long-term project. John asked how long, she said she didn’t know.

Cllr Ellis asked about the public consultation process and how it operated. She said they had gone to voluntary groups, staff governors, Wirral Council and had been invited to as many groups as possible such as Area Forums but given the large population it was difficult.

John Parr said it had been neglected for thirty years and needed something done. They could reinvigorate it into safe use by the public as a recreated space, which the museum would be happy to look after. He was hopeful to see a positive outcome. Cllr Ellis said it was a brilliant presentation and there were forms to sign up as members. John Parr urged people to go onto the Hoylake Lifeboat Museum website where they could support the project, join the friends group or get more details of the Appeal. He hoped it would be a “cultural haven that people can be proud of”. Cllr Ellis said was delighted.

The partners were asked to have their say, starting with the NHS (Margaret Shaunessy). She said it had been her first Area Forum, the Trust had gone to the public with their “Treating you well into the future” consultation which ended on the 30th June. Despite rumours they were not closing Clatterbridge hospital, but developing services and making the best use of them. The stroke unit had won an award, so had the early support discharge team and community midwives who had run a shop in Birkenhead. Also the oxygen service for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had won an award. Regarding infection control they had found innovative ways to clean and improve infection control. This had had a dramatic effect at reducing it to below the national average.

John Parr said he mother and uncle had died of a stroke and his father had nearly died. However he felt there were shortcomings in care although it was better than a year ago. He asked what the reaction from the Trust was on strokes?

Following the RNLI building a new lifeboat station, they had vacated the existing station, however there had been a number of commercial interests interested in it that wanted to turn it into a warehouse or an office block. Local people had written to Peel who had listened and given the go ahead. However they had needed money and quickly to purchase it. Tony Crane, a local businessman had purchased it and offered them a long term lease which had been a key element in the opportunity to set up the museum.

A committee had been established, it was ideal for housing a Victorian lifeboat. The tractor shed had been the first in the world. However they wanted to main alterations for a cafe, kitchen, toilet and main display room. It had fantastic views and they hoped to neighbouring land which had previously been a Victorian pavilion. The Hoylake Lifeboat Museum was unique and the story of the Hoylake lifeboat station in the Dee Estuary was of interest to the older generation, school children and young people who wanted to learn about how Hoylake was. This was Hoylake’s gift to the world. John Parr said he hoped people had enjoyed watching the film

Cllr Ellis said it was subject to planning permission. John Parr said they were in advanced talks regarding building regulations, health and safety and planning guidelines and so far Wirral Council were satisfied. He said it was here because of the community and they were listening to the community. Cllr Elderton said he couldn’t comment. John Parr said he had taken David Ball around and they wanted to negotiate about the land adjacent to the museum.

The video started with a shot of Government Road, Hoylake where John Parr had been born in the 1950s. There had been green woodlands then and coastguard cottages as well as a lighthouse and lifeboat station. He had been collected by a retired lifeboat man, who opened up the lifeboat station which meant John had had the run of Hoylake Lifeboat Station.

In 1833 a second station had been added on Hilbre Island. Those present were shown photos of old lifeboats which had been restored. He had also discovered the last lifeboat to serve there. It was a 35ft mahogany boat, 110 years old of the Liverpool type design. It was on the Register of National Historic Vessels. However when he had found it there was a tree growing inside on the bank of the River Ribble. He father had said “great idea son, but why not forget it”? The lost Hilbre lifeboat had been restored using twelve trainees at the Laird Foundation. This provided training opportunities for young people. It had been seventy-two years since it had sailed away. Following the restoration of the Chapman he had been asked to help restore the Thomas Corbett, which following a talk with the owner the owner had been happy for them to take over the boat.

However it was in Waterford and had to be shipped to the Wirral which had been a lot of work to do. It was in good condition as it had been one of the last to be built. It had a twin engine and provided training opportunities in ship preservation.