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Dear Mr Black,
Before answering the specific points that you raise, can you confirm who these “strong indications” came from and who else you have put this question to? I continue to hear rumors on all sorts of issues (including health issues) and normally discover that 90% are only rumors and people scaremongering.
Yours sincerely,
George Freeman
Councillor George S Freeman JP
Ward 33 – Garelochhead & Cove
Housing Spokesperson
Argyll & Bute Council
From: Jab4358@aol.com [mailto:Jab4358@aol.com]
Sent: 25 March 2006 12:53
To: Freeman, George
Subject: Jeanie Deans Unit
Councillor Freeman,
There are strong indications that the Jeanie Deans Unit in Helensburgh is to be closed within 90 days. An announcement
is expected on 31st March. As you will be aware, 31st March is the date for the transition of administrative
responsibility from NHS Argyll and
The original NHS Argyll and Clyde Clinical Strategy suggested that the patients in the Jeanie Deans would be "re-provided"
and "new services" be available before any closure was contemplated. It seems that the existing patients are being
transfered to existing facilities in Helensburgh not to "new services". This represents a transfer of the financial
responsibility for these patients from the NHS to Argyll and Bute Council.
Has Argyll and Bute Council been consulted and has the Scottish Executive provided additional funds for the support of these
NHS patients?
John Black
OorToon.Com
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Dear Mr Black
This is news to me - The Council has not been consulted to the best of my
knowledge and I am not sure at all how the changes will impact in terms of
financial responsibility.
As you can see I have copied the Director into this and would expect that Me
Henry will explain what is happening once he picks up this e mail
Regards
Ellen Morton
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Dear Mr Black
This was news to me but I will make enquiries tomorrow and get back to you
Regards
Moyra Stewart
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Dear Mr Black
I am not aware that the JDU is under threat of closure with the next 90 days.
The last pronouncement from Mr Andy Kerr MSP Minister for Health was that the JDU and Victoria had a stay of execution until alternative service arrangements could be found, and from that I took it that he was taking a watching brief on the matter and would ensure proper communication of any new arrangements.
NHS Highland will take over service provision on 1 April and I have copied this email to our representative (Cllr Petrie) on the new Board for his comments.
Cc Cllr Billy Petrie
Cc Mr Douglas Hendry, Director Community Services.
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John
I have not had any information indicating the Jeanie Deans is closing I certainly hope this is rumor.
Regards
Danny
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Dear Mr Black
Thank you for your e-mail concerning the Jeanie Deans Unit.
I have not been advised of any details relating to the re-provision of new or alternative services in respect of the Jeanie Deans Unit and am unable therefore to respond to your questions just now.
I will forward your query onto the Director of Services, Douglas Hendry, who should be able to enlighten all of us as to where the Council stands in relation to the continuance of this vital service.
Yours aye
Al Reay
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Dear Mr. Black
Thanks for your email; I was unaware that closure was imminent, and like you had noted the terms of the agreed closure. I am not certain what the “new services” facilities are.
I presume that they are in the private sector and could comprise Argyle Lodge, Balvaird, Cairndhu, Gullybridge and Morar Lodge. If you have any specific information on the matter please let me know.
In the meantime by copy of this email I ask that Mr. Douglas Hendry Director of Community Services and Councillor Dick Walsh Social and Health Issues spokesperson make comment on these matters.
Regards
John Tacchi
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Dear Mr Black,
Copy of your e-mail to Director of Community Service within Argyll & Bute Council is noted. I assume that the Director of Community Services and your own local Councillor will respond to you directly.
George Freeman
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Dear Mr Black
I note your email and it contains the quesrions all of us are asking. We await Mr Hendry's reply. I have also asked Councillor Petrie the Council's member on NHS Highland Board if he could get a board statement on the position and the measures in place for patients and staff.
Regards Moyra Stewart
-----Original Message-----
From: "Jab4358@aol.com"<Jab4358@aol.com>
Sent: 3/29/06 11:12:54 AM
To: "Douglas.Hendry@argyll-bute.gov.uk"<Douglas.Hendry@argyll-bute.gov.uk>
Cc: "Dick.Walsh@argyll-bute.gov.uk"<Dick.Walsh@argyll-bute.gov.uk>, "Eric.Thompson@argyll-bute.gov.uk"<Eric.Thompson@argyll-bute.gov.uk>, "Moyra.Stewart@argyll-bute.gov.uk"<Moyra.Stewart@argyll-bute.gov.uk>, "William.Petrie@argyll-bute.gov.uk"<William.Petrie@argyll-bute.gov.uk> , "Ronald.Kinloch@argyll-bute.gov.uk"<Ronald.Kinloch@argyll-bute.gov.uk>, "Daniel.Kelly@argyll-bute.gov.uk"< Daniel.Kelly@argyll-bute.gov.uk>, "Ellen.Morton@argyll-bute.gov.uk"<Ellen.Morton@argyll-bute.gov.uk>, "George.Freeman@argyll-bute.gov.uk"< George.Freeman@argyll-bute.gov.uk>, "Gary.Mulvaney@argyll-bute.gov.uk"<Gary.Mulvaney@argyll-bute.gov.uk>, "al.reay@argyll-bute.gov.uk"<al.reay@argyll-bute.gov.uk>, "John.Tacchi@argyll-bute.gov.uk"<John.Tacchi@argyll-bute.gov.uk>
Subject: Jeanie Deans Unit, Helensburgh
Mr Hendry,
Could you confirm that the Jeanie Deans Unit, Helensburgh is to be closed within 90 days and that adequate provision has been made for the transfer of the financial support of the existing patients from NHS Argyll and Clyde to Argyll and Bute Council.
While I understand that the Jeanie Deans Unit does not conform to the current ideal for single room care for each patient, the Unit was built in 1989 and is an important resource for Helensburgh. There are two issues involved:- 1 The unclear process within NHS Scotland by which the Jeanie Deans Unit was marked for closure; 2 The resources within Argyll and Bute for the "Care for the Elderly".
The first issue deals with the history of the process which was part of NHS Argyll and Clyde's "Clinical Strategy" document which was advanced at a time when NHS Argyll and Clyde were in financial difficulties. The document was never properly debated with public presentation of the arguments and logic for the closure of the Jeanie Deans Unit. Nevertheless, when the Health Minister wrote off the £100 million dept of NHS Argyll and Clyde and declared the Trust incompetent, the "Clinical Strategy" was accepted as a valid document. There has never been any official explanation for the £100 million debt or of the need to close the Jeanie Deans Unit. While the £100 million has been written off, since we have no idea of the origins of the debt, the split of NHS Argyll and Clyde and transfer of Argyll and Bute to NHS Highland carries the potential for a £50 million shortfall in the next five years if the underlying problems are not addressed. The closure of the Jeanie Deans Unit is not the solution to this problem.
The second issue deals with the future of "Care for the Elderly" in Helensburgh. On Monday 27th March, there were 242 patient beds in Cardross-Helensburgh-Rhu Nursing Homes with 31 vacant beds. At the moment, the patients in the Jeanie Deans can be placed in private Nursing Homes. However, there is seasonal variation in the vacancy rate with the Spring likely to be the time of maximum availability. Last August, when I was looking for a nursing home place for my father there was zero vacancy. I am not aware that Argyll and Bute Council track the nursing home vacancy rate since nursing home care is a private provision. Some of the Jeanie Deans patients are being transferred to area nursing homes which will have an impact later in the year on the available beds.
There are 30 patient beds in the Jeanie Deans Unit. Clydeview Nursing Home with 28 beds is scheduled for closure in 2007. In 2007 there will be 58 fewer or 19% less nursing home beds available to Helensburgh residents. All demographic projections indicate that we are going to live longer. The nursing home population will increase, not get less.
The Jeanie Deans was purpose built in 1989. All of the other nursing homes in the area are converted Victorian mansions. None are ideally suited to their present purpose. We are in the process of losing a valuable community resource.
The private nursing homes in the Helensburgh area employ about 300 people. This makes nursing home care one of the major sources of employment in Helensburgh. There are 51 staff at the Jeanie Deans Unit and 28 at Clydeview. The closure of these facilities will impact 80 jobs. This must have an impact on the economy of Helensburgh. Nursing Home Care is a growth business and Helensburgh is ideally situated to participate in that market. The sector deserves support from Argyll and Bute Council.
John Black,
OorToon.Com
6 Woodhollow House
Helensburgh G84 9BT
13th August 2008
Douglas Hendry
Argyll and Bute
Council
Kilmory
Lochgilphead
Argyll PA31 8RT
Dear Sir,
In April 2006 we had
an exchange of e-mails regarding the status of The Jeannie Deans Unit in
Helensburgh. At the time I thought
your response was pathetic. Subsequent
events have shown that you were negligent if the position was as you stated.
I expect more from a
council official who holds the title of Strategic Director Community
Services. I remind you that I pay your
wages not the Councillors. Since you
dont meet my reasonable expectations Youre fired.
Sincerely,
John Black
cc
Jonathan Clinch,
McArthur Stanton
The Lennox Herald
The Helensburgh
Advertiser
The Dumbarton Reporter
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Dear Mr Black,
I am in receipt of your email attached below and do not understand why I am receiving it again over 2 years after
it was first sent. I have checked my records and can confirm that I replied at the time and can also confirm that you acknowledged my reply. You should be aware that Eric Thomson, John Tacchi and Moyra Stewart stood down from Argyll & Bute Council in May 2007 and that Ronnie Kinloch unfortunately died over a year ago. You should also note that James McLellan has now retired from Argyll & Bute Council.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor George S Freeman
Ward 9 - Lomond North
Argyll & Bute Council
From: Jab4358@aol.com
[mailto:Jab4358@aol.com]
Sent: 15 August 2008 06:50
To:
Subject: Council official fired!
Subj: Jeanie Deans Unit, Helensburgh
Date: 4/4/2006 3:19:37 PM GMT Standard Time
From: Douglas.Hendry@argyll-bute.gov.uk
To: Jab4358@aol.com
CC:
; Dick.Walsh@argyll-bute.gov.uk, Eric.Thompson@argyll-bute.gov.uk,
Moyra.Stewart@argyll-bute.gov.uk,
William.Petrie@argyll-bute.gov.uk,
Ronald.Kinloch@argyll-bute.gov.uk,
Daniel.Kelly@argyll-bute.gov.uk,
Ellen.Morton@argyll-bute.gov.uk,
George.Freeman@argyll-bute.gov.uk,
Gary.Mulvaney@argyll-bute.gov.uk,
Al.Reay@argyll-bute.gov.uk,
John.Tacchi@argyll-bute.gov.uk,
James.McLellan@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Sent from the Internet
Mr Black
I can confirm that a number of the Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond Members have raised with me the basic issues covered in
your e-mail.
As you will know, the Jeanie Deans Unit in Helensburgh is an NHS facility and, although
the Council would expect to be involved in discussions regarding the future of this facility, I would specifically confirm that any decision
regarding the closure of this unit is, ultimately, an NHS decision.
I have no information which would allow me to
confirm, or deny, that the Jeanie Deans Unit is to be closed within 90 days. It therefore follows that I can, similarly, make no comment
about the transfer of financial support from NHS to Local Authority. For the avoidance of any doubt I would specifically confirm that,
in my view, there would require to be agreement between the interested parties in terms of identifying any resource release which would come
to the Local Authority in consequence of a NHS facility.
I hope this response is helpful in terms of
confirming the Council’s current position.
Dear Mr Black,
I am certainly not getting irritated but do not want
to get into discussion on who knew what and when on the JD Unit although I would say that most people were well aware of the ongoing threat
to the Unit long before March 2006 and long before the Unit closed as an in-patient facility in August 2007.
You state that: “Billy (Petrie) is now the area committee representative on the NHS Highland Board”.
That is certainly not the case. The Council has one representative on the NHS Highland Board and that is Councillor Elaine Robertson from Oban. Area Committees are not represented on the NHS Highland Board.
You refer to the current use of the Jeannie Deans (JD) Unit. It should be pointed out that there was a recent public consultation exercise on the future use of the buildings on the Victoria Infirmary site, including the JD Unit, part of which included a public open day in the Victoria Halls on 29 January 2008. I know that a number of local councillors attended that open day (including myself) and took the opportunity to speak to members of the public as well as staff from the NHS who were in attendance. I would have hoped that all those members of the public who had shouted loudly in the past about the JD Unit would have attended. Unfortunately this was not the case as the event was “poorly attended”. If I get irritated, it is when people complain about services but then do not take the opportunity to comment on these services when the opportunity arises.
Yours sincerely,
George Freeman
Councillor George S Freeman
Ward 9 -
Lomond North
Argyll & Bute Council