Dudley Gp of NHS Foundation Trust

Dear Helen - online Board meetings are great for maximum attendance and cutting car use!

I don't think I've had a reply to my concerns over how the Trust seems to be quite relaxed over the climate emergency.  It does look as though it is carrying on with business as usual.  But fine documents have been produced, I believe.

It does look as though little is being done about promoting cycling for the health and well being of staff.  Quite apart from the urgent need to reduce road congestion and air pollution.  Your next door, 22 Kms Black Country Cycle-Walk Mudway transformed is just one way to cut GHG emissions and for more cycle commuting to be enjoyed by staff and able bodied patients, like me, attending the hospital.

Can the Trust take full control of car parking to use the profits to bring in the Fare-Free Public Transport that I have enjoyed in the region for fifteen years?  Can some way be found to use car parking profits to boost bus use by both staff and patients?  There must be some way of doing it!  Can better minds than mine whirr into action?

It does look as though no action is being taken on making the hospital more energy efficient with insulation measures and PV solar on the roof to help reduce our reliance on rather finite fossil fuels and their disastrous consequences for climate and life support systems.

I would be glad to be put right over the climate/resources measures the Board is quickly bringing in.

Best wishes

Tim

PS bonus of 3 photos, 2 cartoons

Four possible challenges for NHS/Social Care

1. Resurgence of the virus
2. Disruption of health and social care
3. Backlog on non-Covid cases
4. Flu epidemic 

Wrong HMG Priorities

from an anonymous NHS doctor writing in the Guardian, 21.05.20

The NHS is not a charity and it isn’t staffed by heroes. It has been run into the ground by successive governments and now we are reaping the rewards of that neglect, on the background of the public health impact of years of rampant inequality in the UK.

The coronavirus crisis has shone a light on lots of good and bad things in this country. It is of course to be welcomed that key workers, including those for the NHS and social care, are being increasingly valued. I hope the reality is dawning that immigrants and BAME staff are vital to the NHS and we couldn’t manage without them.

But don’t feel you need to clap. Enough with the rainbows. When this ends, people need to show their value of key-working staff in practical ways; pay them enough to be able to live in our cities, and recognise, support and welcome immigrant staff who prop this country up. Listen to the views of NHS workers when they raise concerns, address the culture of blame and bureaucracy. Even my colleagues who still appreciate the clapping will bang a saucepan to that.