The Future of the Health & Social Care in Cornwall by Fred Shotter, tvhPPG Secretary

You are probably aware there are serious difficulties with the provision of Health & Social Care throughout England. That is not a new problem.
When the Health Service was set up some 60+ years ago the situation was substantially different. Our life span was not many years after our retirement, we had limited knowledge about ailments which are now major problems. We did not have the technology and equipment to deal with/cure people of these ailments.

Now
We live into our 80’s. We succumb to ailments which can be dealt with, with increasingly positive outcomes, and our families have moved away. This obviously puts a great burden on the health and social services. In many parts of England these are still separate organisations. With devolved powers allocated to Cornwall they have the opportunity of co-ordinating these services so they work together and hopefully more efficiently. Cornwall Council are in the process of developing a Sustainability and Transformation Plan for the next five years.

By the time you read this they would have published various documents and held public
(www.cornwall.gov.uk/shaping-the-future) meetings to present their draft proposals. Currently they show that if they continue the operation as it currently exists there will be a deficit of £277m by 2020/21.

They have a plan that will eliminate this deficit and this plan has some major changes to the way services are provided.
1) Do we want to pay more for the services?
2) Do we want services on our ‘door step’?
I guess the answer to 1 is NO and to 2 is YES.
There has to be give and take on both sides.
They can’t afford to provide every specialist system in every hospital – which would not be fully utilised. A bit inconvenient but do we want treatment NOW but 100 miles away or in 6 months’ time but 10 miles away??
It’s now up to the specialists in the health and social care to come up with a solution.
YOUR INPUT COUNTS – But don’t forget, unless you have a deep pocket they cannot provide a utopian solution.

Also Tamar Valley Health Patients Group, with the assistance of Tamar Valley Health Centres, participated in the successful Calstock Christmas Tree Festival, held in December 2016 in Harrowbarrow Church.  It’s estimated that around 450 visitors came during the five days the 26 trees were on display, with many very appreciative comments being made. Hot drinks and cakes were also available, giving visitors the opportunity to sit to peruse the trees whilst listening to organ music. The aim of the festival is to add to the pre-Christmas atmosphere in the parish and encourage visitors to the three churches in the Calstock Parish. Visitors were very generous with donations of approximately £660, which will go towards making improvements to church facilities. The organisers wish to make it known how grateful they are to both the entrants and visitors for their contribution to making this a very special event.

The tvhPPG tree was decorated with all medical items.