Lincolnshire Talks: Are our county’s hospitals in crisis?
With both of the trusts in charge of Lincolnshire’s hospitals being placed in special measures in consecutive weeks, many residents are growing increasingly concerned about the quality of our NHS services. But are our county’s hospitals in crisis? United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust was deemed inadequate just days after the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS…
Lincoln County Hospital Photo: Steve Smailes/Lincolnshire Reporter
With both of the trusts in charge of Lincolnshire’s hospitals being placed in special measures in consecutive weeks, many residents are growing increasingly concerned about the quality of our NHS services. But are our county’s hospitals in crisis?
Both trusts apologised to their patients following the report, promising to address the issues identified by inspectors.
But is enough being done?
Lincolnshire Reporter went out to speak to some locals on Lincoln High Street to hear their thoughts on the state of the county’s hospitals.
Loraine Tesh said: “There’s too many people using the NHS,” while Zorona Raghip said that the government needed to put the country first, by reducing foreign aid.
One person, who did not wish to be filmed, added: “I’ve had nothing but good service and last time I was there I was treated like a Queen.”
The impact has been felt across the whole of the county, not just in Lincolnshire with the people in Grantham being especially critical about the recent news.
Jody Clark, founder of the Fighting 4 Grantham Hospital campaign group, said: “After ULHT closed Grantham A&E overnight due to unsafe staffing levels last August, it’s gutting to hear staffing at Lincoln has been critical over the last week and they are back in special measures so soon after 2013-2015.
“It makes us feel that the decision to close Grantham A&E overnight was the wrong decision – it clearly didn’t resolve the issues.
“The latest CQC report highlights issues with bad management of finances and staff feeling under pressure and unable to voice concerns.
“It saddens and scares me, and many in the community, as to what we will be left with.
“Both Grantham and Louth have consistently rated good, proving that smaller hospitals function better and larger hospitals seem to struggle. This is a concern with the centralisation plans under the Sustainability and Transformation proposals.
“I hope they use the great services at Grantham and Louth to their benefit and let them help support the system while it is struggling.
“If the trust is unable to manage the four hospitals, I think they need a troubleshooter to resolve ongoing issues or alternatively, let the neighbouring trusts take Grantham, Pilgrim and Louth under their wings and then they can focus on improving Lincoln.
“Something definitely needs to be done as the people of Lincolnshire deserve better.”
Many Facebook readers offered support to the NHS workers in the county.
Robin Shipston said: “Hopefully we now see Lincolnshire’s MPs come together to ask what can be done to help the trust sort itself out, and collaboratively achieve that.”
Anthony Kavanagh added: “I know the staff and the leadership at the trust are doing their best; no one comes to work to do a bad job.”
Do you think our hospitals are in crisis? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or by emailing [email protected]
Spotted an error? Please notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.
A third year journalism student at the University of Sunderland, from Lincoln. Due to his below par athletic ability he prefers to write about the sports he loves rather than playing them.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
A Skegness-based artisan cheese company launched a new luxury truffle infused cheddar on Friday.
The Chuckling Cheese Co’s latest product is available to buy online from March 5, as well as in six shopping centres across the country once they are allowed to reopen again on April 12. This includes Hildreds Shopping Centre in Skegness.
The new truffle infused cheddar is described as heady, with earthy aromas, sweet and buttery, musky and with a semi-firm texture.
The firm’s most luxurious cheese is now available to buy individually with 150g of Truffle Infused Cheddar Cheese priced at £4.50 a truckle, or on offer at 3 for £12 and 6 for £20.
It can also be purchased within many of the company’s hampers, including in the build your own Truckle Gift Box costing £15.
The truffle infused cheddar is the company’s most luxurious cheese yet. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Chuckling Cheese Co was founded in 2012 by Emma and Stuart Colclough and offers over 30 flavours of cheddar cheeses.
It also sells a wide range of other artisan products, including chilli jams, chutneys, biscuits, giant meringues, craft beers, gins, vegan and gluten free products, and a large selection of build your own and ready-made gift hampers.
Company director Emma Colclough said: “We are supper excited about launching such a luxurious cheese, we think it could be one of the tastiest cheddars yet.
“Not only are we bringing out this new cheese flavour we have got lots more products lined up for this year.
“We look forward to hearing the reviews from our customers and would like to thank them for helping us get through this pandemic.”
A car was set on fire during an alleged arson attack in Lincoln.
Damage was caused to the interior of the vehicle in the incident on Imp Close overnight on January 21, but fortunately it did not fully ignite.
Lincolnshire Police released an image of a person on Friday, March 5 in connection with the arson attack, who they believe is aged 13 to 20 and may be able to assist with their investigations.
Police said: “Investigations have been ongoing but we are yet to identify the person in the image.”
Anyone with information should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident 275 of 21/01/2021 or crime number 21000047726.
COVID-19 testing in Lincolnshire is being scaled back as part of government plans to expand home testing as children return to school.
The testing sites at the Lincolnshire Showground, and in Boston and Skegness, have started opening for half a day in order for parents and others to collect home-testing kits during a second session in the afternoon following a deep clean.
Health bosses are now also looking at how these changes will impact on rapid testing sites.
Under government plans for the return to school, young people have to take tests twice a week, with parents and carers also being asked to do the same.
Professor Derek Ward said: “We don’t want them go into the same place that people who have got symptoms are getting their normal PCR tests at the same time.
“So the government changed our fixed sites that we’ve got – the two regional sites one in Lincoln, one in Boston, and another one in Skegness.
“If you think you’ve got a symptom, you book yourself in a test you’ll be going in the morning, then at lunchtime they close and do a deep clean
“In the afternoon they open up again, but only to allow people who haven’t got any symptoms to go and pick up their lateral flow testing kits.”
Home testing kits will include two packs per person and will aim to last for seven weeks.
Professor Ward said bosses were in talks about where more sites could go in the next couple of weeks to increase coverage across the county.
“Our plan is to make sure that people will be in around within around five miles of somewhere that they can go and pick up a kit,” he said.
Whatsapp
