This is my initial letter that prompted the “politically opportunistic bandwagon” reply….
Dear Mr Letwin
I am shocked to learn that the SCBU unit will be imminently closed at Dorchester Hospital, and babies under 32 weeks transferred to Poole. For anyone in the West of your consistency, this will be tragedy. I know several people whose babies had to stay in the Dorchester SCBU – this was far enough away as it was. But to have to travel up to an hour and a half, instead of 35 mins or so, will put unbearable pressure on couples and families already in a devestating situation – increasing the amount of families split up under such difficulties, women getting post-natal depression and unable to bond with their babies, and other children in the family neglected whilst the parents concentrate on such a ridiculously long travel time to the hospital. It will also put extra pressure on the babies having to travel at such young an age, increasing mortality rates. Please intervene in this ridiculous proposal – you must have seen how many local people have complained about this closure.
Dear Ms Emett, Thank you for your email of yesterday evening about the SCBU.
I have discussed this at some length with Dorset County Hospital.
I have become persuaded that the changes which are proposed will actually lead to better and safer care for those of my constituents who have very premature babies or other serious complications, and I think it would therefore be entirely irresponsible for me to promote or join any politically opportunistic bandwagon against these proposals.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Oliver Letwin
[RT HON SIR OLIVER LETWIN MP]
This was met with with an angry response from across the community as local people lined up to respond.
Here was my (Carolyn Emett) reply
Dear Mr Letwin
I am not part of any “political bandwagon”. I am a mother of three with one disabled child, and the aunt of a very severely disabled child, who was in a special care baby unit. I also have a friend whose son was in SCBU in Dorchester.
I am writing to you as an extremely concerned constituent – and I am asking you as my MP (and I believe you are supposed to represent your constituent’s views?) to back the large number of people who are worried about this. I know lots of ordinary people who have expressed their unhappiness about SCBU moving from the centre of the County to one end of it. It just doesn’t make geographical sense!!!
My nephew was in a unit that was many miles away from his home, and so I have first hand experience of what happens to a family when they have a child born prematurely, which is put in a unit which is an unmanageable distance away from home. He was in the Unit for 4 months!!!!! Can you imagine what this does to the family? I have seen Post Natal Depression, inability to express milk, difficulty with bonding with the child, and financial problems – all due to the stress of travelling long distances every day to see an ill baby.
This is not sound medical thinking.
Yours sincerely
Carolyn Emett
Emily Brown was just one of the numerous responses ‘Bandwagon??? WTH!!! People are campaigning for their children’s lives you stupid man!!!!’
Nina Coakley ‘He chose not to elaborate on what was so convincing to make him change his mind though?!’
Phillipa Mills ‘This cements what I always thought of this man…I will not write my exact thoughts on here as they contain rude words.”
Katrina Cunningham ‘Bandwagon… I think he needs some more emails…. [email protected]’ OR https://www.oliverletwinmp.com/contact
Ali Lister-Fisher ‘Needs to take the honourable out of his title I think!!! DCH is supposed to be our county hospital, not going to be much left of it at this rate.’
Emma Mason ‘Maybe he should spend sometime with the children that use the unit regularly and look around the scbu and see the tiny poorly babies. My little girl was born at 28 weeks in Portsmouth and then transferred back home to Dorchester, it put a massive strain on my other children as I didn’t see them for 6 weeks!!!!! It makes me so mad to hear people making decisions about our children’s lives when they’ve never been there and lived it for themselves!!’
Marion Bishop ‘Always said he was an opportunistic waste of space! Only interested in feathering his own nest as usual. No doubt someone has pointed out to him it’s politically unwise to support the campaign…’
Kayleigh Hodder ‘I would expect nothing less from Mr Letwin… more like Mr Letdown!’
Helen Mortimer ‘I’m confident this is a jibe against Jeremy Corbyn’s involvement. A politically opportunistic jibe.
Pot. Kettle. Black.’
Sarah Smith ‘I’d suggest posting it on (twitter) for the public to see what kind of man we are represented by in this area. It makes my blood boil!’
Kate Sloss ‘Is he serious???? What an utter cockwomble!!!!’
Alison Rycroft ‘Self-serving Tory tw*t. I’d like to hear his argument backing up exactly how he feels getting rid of Dorchester’s SCBU will “lead to better and safer care” for these babies…’
Karen Foster ‘I had to go to Bournemouth Hospital for an appointment last week, I drove and it took me an hour and a half travelling from Wool. Overall with the waiting time it was four hours. I don’t know how people will manage using public transport.’
Kerry Begley ‘Opportunist Bandwagon!!!! How dare he!’
Vivien Green ‘This is bloody disgraceful and it just goes to show that our government and the NHS are worlds apart, we need this to stay in Yeovil what happens when babies don’t survive because of this stupidity that’s what I want to know.’
Heather Hamer ‘Politically opportunistic bandwagon? When it’s putting babies’ lives at risk?’
Jill Westendorp ‘He doesn’t care anymore not that he ever did, as he’s leaving (before he’s pushed) politics for good & the sooner the better.’
Rebecca Brookman ‘Absolutely shocking response, he has made this political, everyone else has been involved due to their genuine concern that these services will be lost.’
Lindsey Clark ‘My son calls him Oliver let down as he kept cancelling there appointments.’
Marie Cole ‘What an utter tosser.’
Kerry Neil ’31 years ago our son was born 2 pound 2 ounces. SCBU were then in Princes Street and were fantastic. We really needed to be close to SCBU, not miles away. Letwin, you are a disgrace, you have zero thought for ordinary people. Feather nested moron, without any decency.’
Michelle Lloyd ‘” I have become persuaded” quote!
Oh yes? How much did they pay for your persuasion Letwin?’
Jane Coxhill ‘I am totally shocked. 40years ago this October, 1976, I gave birth in Portwey Hospital, Weymouth, it had no special baby care unit and as she needed urgent specialist care, she was taken to Dorchester, there was no bed for me. I had to stay in Portwey. My baby died in Dorchester, I was in Weymouth and I never saw her again. I had held her for only 10 minutes, given her one kiss. I had hoped we had moved on in the last 40 years. It seems we are going backwards.
How will couples manage – other children in the family to be considered, work to juggle to bring in money to the family purse, get to Poole to be with their precious baby, desperately ill – how can it possibly be better to have a special care baby unit so far away from its patients.’
Brie Purse ‘It’s all money at the end of the day. Opportunistic band wagon. Lol. Oh right. At the end of the day losing SCBU is just one step closer to losing the whole of paediatrics. It’s sad that they only care about balancing the pennies.’
Marcus Dare ‘What I struggle with is why it will be safer to make these changes. My twins were in scbu and received incredible care, as have countless other babies.’
Louise Trowbridge ‘Shockingly rude and insensitive response.’
Just a small representation of the public perspective towards an MP with a history of attacking public services. From his book ‘Privatising the World’ to
Are you outraged? Are you prepared to stand up with us? Then please join us and fight back against this monstrous attitude. If you ever doubt their intentions just remember they go private and don’t care.
Join Save SCBU, Kingfisher and Maternity group on Facebook. Hopefully see you soon.
