OnTheWight always welcomes a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below.
This from Cllr Joe Robertson, the Conservative councillor for Bembridge. Ed
It is unfortunate that Cllr Ian Dore has misinterpreted my comments at the recent meeting of the Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Health and Social Care in his subsequent letter to News OnTheWight.
He could have made known his positive experiences of the NHS without trying to score points off me – a fellow councillor who happens to be in a different political grouping to his own. Cllr Dore was not present at the meeting which is open to any councillor to attend.
Part of my role is to scrutinise senior NHS decision-makers
I am a member of the Council’s Health and Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee and part of my role is to scrutinise the decisions of senior NHS decision makers.
I have been asked by residents why St Mary’s Hospital continues to be manned by masked security men standing outside the front doors of the hospital including the access to the A&E Department.
The question for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust was in summary: what plans are there to return to normal where security guards do not have to stand duty outside the entrance to the hospital? I have first-hand experience of how this appears to patients when I had to go to A&E last month.
A healthcare assistant or nurse would be more welcoming
At the meeting I made the very obvious point that a healthcare assistant or nurse with a clear visor would be more welcoming and better placed to decide who should and who should not enter A&E.
It is against the principles on which the NHS stands – for access to be decided by security guards with no clinical qualifications. Any necessary temporary measures should be as short and as undisruptive to patients as possible.
Question was about senior decision-making
I will not be diverted from my job of scrutinising policy and senior decision-making by tit-for-tat shots from opposition councillors who do not appear to like tough questions being asked.
Like Cllr Dore, I also became a father during lockdown and the staff at St Mary’s were excellent.
I also work alongside the NHS every day as an advisor to a national nursing charity. My question was not about the excellent staff, it was about senior decision-making, including government guidance.
Article edit
3.10pm 2nd Dec 2021 – Headline changed from “Here’s why I suggested clinical staff could be on the door at hospital” to “Here’s why I suggested security guards not best to decide who enters hospital A&E”
Image: © Isle of Wight NHS Trust
