September 20, 2007

9:47am Wednesday 19th September 2007

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I AM delighted that the long-desired presence of a doctor in the minor injuries unit at our hospital is to become reality when the pilot trial begins soon.

I am pleased with the recognition that this will enable the unit to cope with some common, minor medical illnesses as well as the injuries that the nurse practitioners treat well at the moment.

Thus, after a long struggle aided by the continued support of local people for myself and Health Concern we are approaching the minimum that the Government described as necessary for emergency services for local people in its document Keeping the NHS Local published in 2003, a "first port of call" (a service able to receive and provide assessment, initial treatment and transfer where necessary)" for among others "patients arriving under their own steam."

As the trial is designed only to cover working hours the battle is now on to increase the medical cover available for the out-of-hours GP service. The Primary Care Trust has taken the first step in this by looking for a new provider for this service.

I returned to London last week for a press conference following the publication of the Health Select Committee's Report on the Electronic Patient Record. This vital development for patient safety and communication has been delayed by the magnitude of the task. Unlike other countries that are developing electronic records bit by bit and building on existing systems, the Department of Health has chosen a big bang approach, centrally directed without, we believe, enough local involvement or incorporation of local computer systems already working well.

We await the Government's response to the report and then there will be a debate when we tell the Government what we think of the response. Hopefully we can influence the implementation and our involvement will persuade the Government of changes to make ,particularly widening the information available to patients about the benefits of the electronic patient record to lessen the resistance to it that exists now among some people.

I have had one of my regular meetings with representatives of organisations actively preserving our industrial heritage.

The Severn Valley Railway continues to repair the widespread flood damage. Were it not for the tremendous spirit among staff and volunteers this could have finished the Railway for good but this dedication, the recognition of the Railway's importance to tourism and the generosity of supporters means that it could be restored to full running early next year.

Bewdley Museum visitor numbers have held up very well and there is growing certainty of a Carpet Museum in Kidderminster.

I was asked to write an article about a hidden tourist gem for the House Magazine at Westminster. I chose the Churchill water-powered mill and forge, a gem indeed of our industrial past, where open days are well supported.