Letter to OSM TC Mayor and all Town Councillors and to West Hill Parish Councillors 28/11/2018 From Leigh Edwards (as an active member of the OSM & District Health and Care Forum – OSM H&CF) in response to Margret Hall’s Open Letter Sunday 18th November 2018 to OSM TC Mayor and Councillors – copy of said letter is in Appendix 1 below. Cllr. Hall states in her letter that she has not attended many OSM H&CF meetings, and that goes a long way to explain why her very personal, rather demeaning and sarcastic, letter is so factually incorrect, and in so many ways! It is also clear,[...]
The recommendation, which was debated on Thursday (22 November) was part of a set of measures set out in a scrutiny spotlight review aimed at supporting the care at home service (or rapid response) to be more effective. Highlighted in particular as a challenging area were services for end of life care, which have been put under considerable pressure, especially since the loss of community hospital beds. I chaired the spotlight review, which took place this summer and published its findings last week in a report that can be found here - [...]
At the Ottery Town Council meeting on Tuesday 6 November, a proposal for a working group to help retain Ottery’s community hospital was approved by three votes to eight abstentions. Next Thursday’s meeting is convened on the grounds of not having enough information, despite myself, Cllr Geoff Pratt, Roger Giles and Dr Margaret Hall (chair of West Hill Parish Council) explaining at length the proposal. I’m kind of speechless at the apparent determination of some town councillors to thwart plans to save our hospital. And I have never known an Ottery Town Council meeting in [...]
I chaired the review, which took place during the summer and found that the care at home (or Rapid Response) service was very stretched and care of the dying in particular was highlighted as an area of concern, especially since community hospital beds were closed. Over 200 Devon community hospital beds have been lost in the past five years or so. We interviewed a range of witnesses, including Dr Paul Hynam, GP and Secretary of the Local Medical Committee, GP, Dr Mike Slot (whose concerns prompted the review), Ann Rhys, Assistant Director of Care at Hospiscare and Richard Westlake, Chair [...]
Dear Paul Thank you for your email and copy of your open letter to the Ottery Herald. Perhaps it would be useful for me to explain some of the background as to why I have supported the formation of a Working group under the aegis of OSMTC. Let me say at the outset that my only aim is to do everything possible to secure a viable future for Ottery Hospital, and my medical background means I feel I have something to contribute. It is clear that this will need many different groups working together. I have no interest in any of the politics of the matter. I have been a member of the Health & [...]
But no, far from it! Her speech last night outside No 10 was full of defiance. And I might add guff, bluster, denial and actual delusion. Basically, while Rome was burning, Mrs May was shrieking from the roof of the citadel: “Hey everyone, everything’s fine!”... even as the flames singed her clothing. As I write, the latest speculation is that Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, will be the next resignation, after he more or less rejected the job offer of Brexit Secretary yesterday. A vacancy caused by the departure of Dominic Raab, who apparently couldn’t stomach[...]
I’m absolutely delighted that the road will reopen tomorrow. Residents have managed really well with the inconvenience of one of the main routes through Ottery. The journey to the north part of the town has been difficult and chaotic,especially at peak times, people have mostly been pretty patient with each other. Many thanks to the scaffolders and builders for progressing their work so quickly. It will be great to get back to (mostly) normal again!
A straightforward and uncontroversial proposal… or at least, so I thought! A few weeks ago, I met with Cllr Geoff Pratt (EDDC ward member for Ottery Rural and Ottery Town Councillor), Margaret Hall (retired GP and chair of West Hill Parish Council), Elli Pang (Ottery Town Councillor and chair of the local Health and Care Team Forum) and her colleague, Leigh Edwards. We discussed the risks facing Ottery St Mary Hospital and the risk of it being sold off for development by NHS Property Services – and how we might move things forward in a productive way. Currently the hospital is less [...]
And recounted the grisly details of Fawkes’s death to my friend’s fascinated 13 year old son… Plastic Free Ottery’s recently achieved plastic free status meant I only found three recyclable tankards after searching the town at about 11pm… what a massive difference that made. The litter reduction was incredible. And this morning the town was miraculously clear of all litter thanks to the heroic efforts of EDDC’s Streetscene officers. The magic was fully present. I loved it. And it was so great to catch up with old friends. Looking forward to next year and a [...]
I love Ottery Tar Barrels. The magic and the history that lies behind this iconic event is tangible and it starts with the firing of rock canons at 5.30am ... Here’s a few memories from last year! And here’s all the info you will need if you’re intending to be part of the fun on Monday evening! https://www.tarbarrels.co.uk/ See you there!