Health & Welfare -Looking back
In our last Annual Report we expressed a view that the Wellbeing Centre promised for the Red House site might not materialise. With the transfer of ownership of the site from the Herts Community Trust to Central London Community Healthcare Trust this now seems a possibility.
Looking forward
Harpenden Memorial Hospital
We want to ensure that Harpenden residents are regularly briefed on the patient-related services at the Hospital with regular dialogue with Central London Community Healthcare Trust (CLCHT) representatives and visits to the hospital. Part of this involves the the Society being recognised as the ‘common path’ to CLCHT. We can then enter into discussions about the planned service provision versus a realistic ‘shopping list’ of what is needed at the Hospital. AND that there must be a coherent long term deliverable plan for the estate. We wish to ensure that the fabric of the hospital is maintained and not allowed to deteriorate any further. We will further our aims by Increased working with local patient groups and other Harpenden networks.
St Albans City Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre
This unit closed at the start of the COVID pandemic, and since then Harpenden residents have continued to use the excellent UTC at the L&D. ( A service we can continue to use)
The Herts Valleys CCG are currently consulting on new access and governance arrangements for the UTC , favouring allowing access to patients with appointments, who are referred from NHS 111, or their GP practice.This new service is planned to open in April 2022.
New build Watford General Hospital
This is an ongoing consultation (for several years) regarding the new build Watford General Hospital, and the upgrading of St Albans and Hemel Hempstead Hospitals.
The Society’s committee has agreed that our input into this consultation should be focused on the transport and access stakeholder group where we are represented by Karl Wingfield.
Mount Vernon Cancer Centre review
An independent review in 2019 concluded that the current buildings on the Northwood site are unfit for purpose. Whilst work is progressing on possibly reproviding the Cancer Centre in a new build on the Watford Hospital site, eventually Harpenden residents may be served by a new ‘North’ radiotherapy unit at either in Luton or Stevenage, reducing journey times and enhancing cancer treatment.
Ian Barrison
