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ONE PAPER ... ALL THE NEWS from Dewsbury, Batley, Ossett, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton & Spen Valley
80ft tree falls through house roof
Friday January 13, 2017
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No. 772
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Arsonists to blame in barn blaze
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p7
Tracy Brabin tears into Prime Minister as Speaker rebukes Paula
MPs ON WARPATH Home safe – Pat and daughter-in-law Christine Above – Tracy Brabin MP
By James Morris News Reporter james@thepressnews.co.uk
THE PRESSURE on Dewsbury Hospital’s underthreat accident and emergency department was laid bare this week as the district’s two MPs made passionate pleas for the government to intervene. A&E at Dewsbury was stretched to its limit over the festive period, with reports of bed shortages and long waits to see a doctor. One old age pensioner was forced to wait 19 hours for a bed on a ward on New Year’s Day. Pat Mackintosh was taken into hospital on New Year’s Day after the cough she had been suffering with for several days worsened. Despite an ambulance rushing her to A&E at Dewsbury, the 72-year-old
from Gomersal then waited eight hours for a doctor to examine her. This was despite Mrs Mackintosh being told by health professionals over the phone that her condition was bad enough to warrant a trip to A&E. Daughter-in-law Christine Warrillow explained: “She had been suffering with a
cold over Christmas and on New Year’s Day it was quite chesty, so we rang the 111 helpline, who carried out an over-the-phone assessment. “They told us they would call back and when they did – five hours later – we were told a doctor would come out to see Pat, but she would have to wait until the next day. She got a bit worse and
at around 7.30pm they said that they would send an ambulance.” Mrs Warrillow described the scene at the hospital as “horrific” due to shortages of equipment and facilities. “They managed to find her a bed in the walk-in centre but not in A&E,” she said. “However, we arrived at 8pm and a doctor didn’t manage to come see us until 4am. “There were people having to share cubicles and having to sit in chairs as there were no beds available. “The department was so stretched. We could not fault the staff though, it was not their fault and everybody who came to see us apologised for the way things were.” The A&E department at Dewsbury Hospital is set to be downgraded this spring as
Trust spends another £1.7m on savings advice Full story – p5 Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust look to provide more specialist care at their hospitals. Serious emergency cases will have to go to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield once Dewsbury’s downgrade is complete. Having seen Dewsbury pushed to its limits over Christmas, Mrs Warrillow said that she fears for the future of healthcare in North Kirklees. “It is scary to imagine what could happen if there isn’t an A&E department here as there will be twice as much pressure on Pinderfields,” she added. “It is just not viable and it is putting lives at risk.” Both of North Kirklees’ members of parliament raised their concerns in Parliament this week, in debates on the NHS and in questions to both the Health Secretary and Prime Minister. In a passionate exchange Batley & Spen MP Tracy
Brabin brought up the stress Dewsbury Hospital had been placed under with Theresa May during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday. However, the PM said the changes to hospitals was something dealt with by local health authorities, not central government. Ms Brabin admitted she was disappointed by Mrs May’s response. She said: “Theresa May essentially shrugged off my question, a response that is deeply disappointing. “She is the head of our Government and cannot get away with passing the buck on issues of such importance. “Even in the face of a winter NHS crisis and NHS trusts under ever-worsening financial pressure she refused to budge an inch to help the people of Batley and Spen and beyond. “The case for keeping Dewsbury A&E is absolutely
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