An excellent turnout was seen at last night’s public meeting over Portland hospital bed closures, held at All Saints Church in Easton.

Passionate and rightful points raised, beautifully and articulately made by a wide variety of meeting attendees, all saying the same thing to different degrees “PLEASE DON’T CLOSE THESE PRECIOUS BEDS!”

Voices came from the general public, healthcare professionals in the NHS and those who support the vital services in community and charity organisations as well as Councillors from different parties (inc. Conservatives).

Green Cllr Dr. Jon Orrell made an impassioned short speech, rudely hurried along my Mr Drax and wrongly accused by Local NHS Chief Exec Ron Shields of getting his facts wrong about intended closures at Swanage and Shaftesbury hospitals (even though Jon didn’t and proved it).

A broken record technique was used by Ron Shields to excuse the decision to close the 16 bed ward: “I simply don’t have safe staffing levels to keep the ward open”, followed by “recruiting is an issue for the NHS up and down the country” Like Pontius Pilate washing his hands of all responsibility. Drax was as useful as a chocolate fireguard. 

Apparently, Richard Drax is some kind of Oracle as he was able to predict both the content and the outcome of the meeting. His regular column piece in today’s Dorset Echo reflects on last night’s meeting, where Ron Shields explained and people listened to the reasons why beds will close…. was written yesterday before noon….

But it was a great coming together of local people to share a unified voice.

Caz Dennett

After the meeting the reaction to Mr Drax was very tangible with one summing up the feelings of many:

“Richard Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Useless-Drax always was, and always will be as much use as a chocolate fireguard imo. He couldn’t care less about the NHS, as he probably has his own private health care plan. I have no idea why normal people vote for him and I can only hope that after this, his latest obvious lack of regard for his constituents and their welfare, that they will wake up and stop voting for him.”

Laura Fletcher

UPDATE:

SAVE PORTLAND BEDS – With almost 200 attending, but only 1.5 hrs to ask questions – not everyone got their chance! Last night Ron Shields indicated some flexibility on 7th August, said he had enough money for staff, but couldn’t get them and said he wanted to engage with Portlanders re the future.

Today he has emailed me about engagement, and we have asked him to keep 6-8 beds open on the Island WHILST engagement commences and proceeds.

We have asked Richard Drax, as our MP, to fully support this request, to help build trust and set a positive tone for the future.

Giovanna Lewis

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