I’m shamelessly ripping off an article from this weeks
‘Private Eye’, the well-known satirical magazine. I make it up to them by
giving them a plug for their next “Bumper 48 page winter special” issue (out
19/2/13) described as a “real eye-ful”. That is how they spelt it.
It will include “M.D.’s special report on Mid-Staffs Mayhem”,
which will be a good read. M.D. has been doing some good work exposing NHS
scandals.
This week there is an analysis of the real cost of closing
Lewisham Hospital’s A and E;
“Little attention has been paid to the monster price tag for
the plans: £56 million investment to prepare Lewisham for the A and E,
Maternity and other cutbacks; £21m to expand capacity at surrounding hospitals
to take Lewisham’s displaced patients; £47m “transitional” costs and £207 million
to write off the immediate debts run up by South London Healthcare. So the
estimated short term costs are already £331m.
Add to that a long-term commitment to subsidise SLHT’s
“excess PFI costs” at the Princess Royal in Bromley and Queen Elizabeth in
Woolwich, beginning with £23m and rising each year until 2031, and the total
bill is closer to £750 million. Plans to sell off some of Lewisham’s property
assets won’t come close to off-setting those costs.”
M.D in a separate article has a go at Andy Burnham and Sir
Brian Nicholson.
The “eye” is as determined as I am and hopefully won’t let go
of this one any time soon. It was pretty much a lone voice against the madness
of the Private Finance Initiative, when the mainstream press were all in favour
of it.
Neil Harris
(a don’t stop till you drop production)
Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
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