Report from I.W. Councillor John Nicholson

Posted by Admin on 26 January 2021, 6:00 pm

COUNCILLOR JOHN NICHOLSON

Ward Member for Northwood & Cowes South
Chairman of Policy & Scrutiny Committee for Adult Social Care & Health

SUNNYSIDE

PALLANCE LANE

NORTHWOOD

PO31 8LT
.
Tel: 07918 757843

.
Email: cllr.john.nicholson@btconnect.com

See the I.W. Councillor’s section

WARD REPORT – JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

The Report appearing in the February 2021 edition of Northwood News:

Cowes Medical Centre
Because of the magnitude of concerns being expressed through the Place Plan development, Social Media and other sources regarding difficulties in accessing services at Cowes Medical Centre, I felt that it was important, in the public interest, to air these concerns and formally ask for a response.
.
I am registered at Cowes and my own dealings with the Medical Centre have been minimal. I have never personally had a problem, but that is not the point. As elected representative I am charged to represent the concerns being expressed by residents of my Ward. I had also been told by sources close to the Patients Participation Group (PPG) that, despite the Group being very pro-active in its approach, it had resigned in frustration. On the other hand, I am told by the CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) that the Group disbanded due to Covid advice and restrictions.
.
Making such an address, off the agenda and without notice to those being addressed, broke protocol and normal ethical standards, yet, given the gravity of the representations being received and the fact that Health Scrutiny had already been asking questions about Cowes (such as why phlebotomy services weren’t available) and being told it was about to happen, then nothing happening, I sought the consent of the Officers and Leader then decided that the moment should not be lost because it was, after all, about airing concerns raised by patients, residents of my Ward and the Town and Parish Councils that I also serve on, concerns that it seemed were not being listened to or addressed.
.
Quite rightly, my action was criticised for breaking protocol, but I did have the support of the Committee, Scrutiny Officers the Leader and all those who had reported concern to me, including other Councillors. At the request of the director of CCG I issued a letter (email) to the Medical Centre, following the address, clarifying the reasons for making the address and apologising for any perceived inference on the ethical standards of the clinicians. The intention was always only to highlight concerns being expressed by patients on gaining access and service, never a reflection on that integrity of that service when reached. This point has largely been reinforced by subsequent feedback too.
.
Since publication of the address, Health Scrutiny has received a wave of support and thanks for airing the issue from the public, some accompanied by quite disturbing and distressing accounts. Even the County Press indicated that it had its sights on these issues already, before they were brought to notice at Health Scrutiny. We are now also told by the CCG that Cowes Medical Centre is under an improvement plan which includes providing a more patient-friendly call handling system (like other Centres already have). None of this had been shared with Health Scrutiny previously, which is disappointing, as it is certainly very much in the public interest, and a matter of concern to the functions of Scrutiny.
.
Amongst all the feedback, which mainly consists of anger and frustration in people’s experiences in gaining access to services, there has been some sympathy for the Centre, and we must recognise that they are under strain, maybe short-staffed, over-burdened, anxious and struggling to cope. We need to get to the core of these issues and seek to help resolve the problems that are leading to such an unsatisfactory level of access and service; an undesirable situation for all, no doubt for the Medical Centre as well.
.
Thank you for your support in this most regretful situation. Please rest assured that we will jointly get to the core of this issue and see it resolved to the benefit of all concerned.
.
The Issue of Children and Nutrition
This issue is, indeed, a scandal, but it is not just the scandal that is being popularly portrayed. One of the major causes of medical conditions today, according to one of the leading experts, Professor Tim Spector, is malnutrition; poor diet, eating and drinking food processed with chemicals and artificial substances, the extensive use of sugars and chemical sweeteners and a labelling system that he claims as being misleading at best, downright dangerous at worst. The scandal is how marketing of these products is allowed, marketing, which Professor Spector highlights is in total contrast to the rigorous testing that medicines have to go through to prove their safety. He suggests that it is no mere coincidence that a rise in many modern conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and allergies, runs parallel to the growth in processed food with artificial ingredients, the rise of chemicals in producing our food and the decline in the use and availability of whole natural ingredients and a healthy varied diet. Anyone interested should read Professor Spector’s latest book, “Spoon Fed”.
.
John Nicholson

Ward Councillor for Northwood & Cowes South
Chairman, Policy and Health Scrutiny Committee for Adult Social Care & Health

See the I.W. Councillor’s section