On Tuesday 9th April I was really pleased to welcome the Rt Hon Victoria Atkins, Secretary of State for Health, to Southend Hospital. I invited the Health Secretary to show her the outstanding work being done at Southend which leads the way in treating fractures, cancer and emergency cases.
We were were met by Matthew Hopkins, Chief Executive Officer, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust and Andrew Pike, the Chief Operating Officer. They took us to the boardroom for a meeting with the Hospital’s leadership group which comprises Chris Howlett, Director of Estates and Facilities, Dawn Patience, Director of Nursing, Emma Gray, Medical Director for Theatres, Anaesthetics and Pain, and Niki Eves, Director of Communications.
We were then taken on a tour of the new Dowsett Ward which provides same-day emergency care where we were introduced to staff and patients.
Next was a tour of the Radiotherapy Unit to see the construction work that is ongoing and because it is literally still a building site, we had to don hard hats and hi-vis jackets to tour the site and meet constructors.
A tour of the new Fracture Liaison Service – FLS - concluded the visit where I was pleased to introduce the Health Secretary to the staff who are implementing the service and the patients who will take part in the service.
Over five years the new FLS is expected to help prevent 550 fractures as well as saving the Trust £472,000 and 1,301 bed days each year. The Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) will see those who have suffered an unexpected fracture, find out why the fracture was caused, and intervene to prevent further fractures. Patients are assessed for osteoporosis and, where appropriate, are given lifestyle advice and started on bone protection. I’m very pleased that the National Osteoporosis Society is involved in this too.
The hospital leadership group describe the new A&E wing as a ‘village’ in that it provides everything for patients in one place. This improves care and cuts down on waiting times, just what we want to see in our hospitals. I know that the Health Secretary was very impressed to meet the hard-working staff who make it all possible.
When the LINAC radiotherapy bunker is ready, my constituents will be able to access state-of-the-art cancer care right here in Southend.
I was so proud to be able to show the Secretary of State for Health, all the good work that is going on at Southend Hospital. The £118m funding from central government that I was able to help secure, is being put to good use.
