Hospital: Help us to be self-funding
A PLEA has gone out to the public to support efforts by Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital to become a foundation trust.
Last month, the Lynn News reported how public consultation had started on the bid which, if successful, would give the hospital the opportunity to become self-funding with more control over its own affairs.
This week, hospital volunteer John Bolton is urging local people to support the bid which, he says, would allow the Gayton Road hospital to become “relatively independent” and therefore not likely to become a satellite of a larger hospital.
“The Queen Elizabeth is a good hospital,” he said, and he warned: “If the hospital does not succeed in becoming a foundation trust, it might have to refer cases to larger foundation trust hospitals and I’m sure that’s not what people of the area would want.”
A former chief executive of West Norfolk Council, Mr Bolton stressed that by becoming a trust member those taking part would not be making any financial commitment.
They would, however, be able to elect representatives to a governors’ council to help steer development of local hospital services to meet local people’s needs and they would also get an annual report.
The hospital aims to recruit large numbers of people to be members of the trust, giving them the chance to influence the way NHS services are developed locally.
“The hospital’s bid to become a foundation trust depends to a great extent on public support,” said Mr Bolton, adding the hospital needed “several thousand people” to support it.
Mr Bolton is among those giving out leaflets containing details of the bid – and is urging local people to fill them in where appropriate and send them back to show their support.
Leaflets are also being given to local groups and organisations and recruitment teams are also out and about to tell local residents about the plans.
Leaflets about the foundation trust bid are available at the hospital reception desk.
Residents can also apply online to become a member via the hospital website www.qehkl.nhs.uk
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
