Ever since the attempt to close the New Forest cottage hospitals was seen off after a tremendous campaign back in 2006, a group consisting the MPs, representatives of the league of friends from each hospital, and the NHS management have met monthly. Due to diary pressures I have missed the last few meetings up until last Friday. I was amazed at how the atmosphere in the meetings has been transformed. The suspicion and distrust has all gone, to be replaced by a really positive determination to work together for the good of the hospitals and the community they serve.
One of the more recent outstanding 'sores' had been the specially commissioned independent report into standards and management at Ford ward in Fordingbridge Hospital. Hitherto, I have favoured publication and have lent my support to the freedom of information application to secure it. I have now changed my mind for two reasons. First, the situation has changed so dramatically: staff, volunteers and managers are working with a common purpose and passed the recent inspection with flying colours. It seems to me churlish therefore, to rake over old ground when everyone has moved on. Second, I had thought that the report could have been anonymised to protect the privacy of individuals but, on reflection, Fordingbridge is one of those close knit communities where it would be quite possible to work out who was who if the report was published. Sometimes it is just best to let sleeping dogs lie, and just to get on with life. |
