An ambitious plan for a new multi-million pound hospital providing care for thousands of people around Berkshire and Buckinghamshire has been released by Bracknell MP Dr Phillip Lee
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Bracknell MP reveals hospital plan
By Hugh FortMay 30, 2012
An ambitious plan for a new multi-million pound hospital providing care for thousands of people around Berkshire and Buckinghamshire has been released by Bracknell’s MP.
But after bosses at Heatherwood Hospital announced it was staying open, Dr Phillip Lee revealed his own plan would be funded by the sale and closure of Heatherwood and Wexham Park hospitals.
Dr Lee has spent months putting together the 66-page document, which, if it came to fruition, would see the new facility built close to the M4 at junction 8/9 at Maidenhead. In his foreword, he said: “My vision is for a major, acute emergency hospital providing the very best care to a large region.
“This would act as a hub from which a series of ‘arterial routes’ to community hospitals would emanate.
“These locally based units would provide chronic illness services closer to where people live.”
Dr Lee’s plan would name the hospital The Royal Thames Valley Hospital.
He says the aim would be to deliver “a patient-centred and clinically driven local NHS responsive to the needs of local people, delivering the best quality care available in an integrated and efficient way, in first rate facilities as close to home as possible by well-trained professionals using state-of-the-art knowledge and equipment”.
Dr Lee’s plan proposed building a state-of-the-art 1,016 bed hospital providing a full time accident and emergency department, critical care and theatre and diagnostics services.
On funding, the document states: “If this decision was made, a significant sum could be raised for local healthcare services by the sale of the Heatherwood site.
“Let me be clear, I would not support closing Heatherwood and relocating services to a new centre in Bracknell unless the whole plan outlined in this document was implemented.
“My proposed strategy is to get funding from the partial sell off of some the land of facilities of the current hospitals.
“Wexham Hospital in Slough is not big enough to support itself as a hospital and would be sold for residential/commercial development.
“Heatherwood could also be sold for development.”
In the conclusion of the plan, he criticised the NHS for its stubbornness in responding to his Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
He revealed his frustration at the NHS’s reluctance to answer his own FOI requests and said “vested interests” and “small kingdoms within larger kingdoms” were rife within the system.
He added: “I do not claim that it is a complete plan.
“It is, however, a genuine effort to stimulate informed discussion in the region about the healthcare services we wish to have for ourselves and for future generations.”
To view Dr Lee’s plans in full, visit www.phillip-lee.com
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Most recent user comments 11 of 11
I'd have some respect for the man if he actually gave a s*** about his constituency as a whole, rather than shoring up his core Tory support.
I've said it before - I'll say it again: Dr Lee you represent every single voter in Bracknell, not just Tory voting ones. You seem bent on not listening or engaging. You fail your constituents with such an attitude.
How about tackling the issues that matter to us - instead of playing out some Star Trek fantasy or daydreaming about hospitals on your door step? Why aren't you kicking the bejesus out of BFC and BRP to get this alleged regeneration underway?
The answer is you and your coalition colleagues are behind the times and have failed to sniff out the prevailing mood. You can no longer bank on our supine acceptance of what you tell us is for our own good. We're angry and you've failed to recognise it or act on it.
I'll be with the many Bracknellians slow clapping you out of your seat on the evening of 7th May 2015.
01/06/2012 at 12:32 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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I am sure Dr Lee reads these comments to find out what his constituents feel - well at least he should!
Dr Lee why not have a public meeting in Bracknell - yes Bracknell - where you are MP (just to remind you of the town!) - and explain why the money cannot be used to improve and modernise our LOCAL hospital - rather than build a new one miles away.
Look forward to hearing when it is.
01/06/2012 at 06:56 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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http://nealsworld.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/the-royal-thames-valley-hospital-the-fantasy-of-dr-phillip-lee/
I am still struggling to see what benefit there would be for the population of Bracknell; in fact I have given up trying to see any benefits as this would cause a great deal of difficulty for a large number of people if it ever happened. The location is of course ideal for him as I am sure he would like to work there – probably as Chief Administrator or similar title, it does however pose a large number of problems for people reliant on public transport; how does he propose they get there as I saw no provision or recommendation for new and enhanced public services to cover that area.
We have seen in the comments on the Healthspace story (http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2114131_no_cash_for_healthspace_building) the local Tories trying to put a spin on how people get to hospital by suggest nearly all patients travel by private car; amazing what using biased consultants reports show and the startling fact that once they are shown the truth our local Tory Spinners become very quiet!
In an ideal world where a cast iron infrastructure is in place, matched with available funding I would applaud this approach. Unfortunately none of this is the case. We have a posturing MP whose sole aim in life is a “Me Me Me” attitude. His own blog shows that, Doctor Lee speaks up for? Well, take his hospital and his Spaceport, add them together throw in some of his photo-calls and odd sound-bite (or pointless Parliamentary question for the benefit of getting in Hansard) and it shows what he is. A small man full of grandiose ideas who doesn’t give two hoots for the Constituency he is supposed to represent but does care enormously about “him”.
31/05/2012 at 15:43 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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As said before having a hospital at Maidenhead doesn't help Bracknell residents at all.
Is he also championing a bus service that runs directly to the new hospital ?
Thought not ....
31/05/2012 at 11:57 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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A small hospital is also necessary for minor injuries and clinics. Less travel is greener and also better for the public purse when you take into consideration hospital transport going back and forth.
Heatherwood has old buldings because it has been neglected long term. there is no reason why the
I am just wondering why it has to be near Maidenhead. Why does he want to close the hospital his constituents use? Is this all so that he can have a big hospital near his home town so that he will have a place to work when he loses his job as an MP!
30/05/2012 at 18:38 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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30/05/2012 at 16:53 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Good doctors need lots of patients to work their specialist skills and this works best when they are 1. big 2. have A&E 3. are up to new healthcare standards
I want a high standard hospital with the best doctors. Old buildings don't deliver this nor do small capacity hospitals. It may be cute but Heatherwood needs a different purpose - its inevitable.
Good doctors now sub-specialise. So an orthopaedic consultant may sub-specialise in hand, neck, or knees for example. Generalists who can do " a bit of everything" are becoming less and so the building they operate in have to change.
If Dr Lee is right or not will be seen but at least he is having a brave attempt at facing change head-on.
30/05/2012 at 14:42 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Phillip Lee MP has no clue how to represent us.
30/05/2012 at 13:49 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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I think we all know what our MP's opinions on the changes are, but I wonder what our local doctors think...And the MPs for Windsor and Ascot who supported keeping Heatherwood open
30/05/2012 at 13:48 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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But then it is now clear that Phillip Lee was not elected for his piercing insight into how to benefit the constituents of Bracknell, and he certainly wasn't elected for his aptitude in making sense.
This plan is pure self-aggrandizement, fueled by the Stalin-esque grip the Bracknell Conservatives have on the parliamentary constituency, and local authorities.
Traditionally, Conservative voters are more likely to bother voting. The Bracknell Tories are pursuing a grand plan to grind the population down with false talk of regeneration and provision of facilities, while slashing services to those who most need them. This in turn switches off the majority of voters who would vote them out - because they end up feeling disenfranchised. Leaving Tory voters to make up the rump of voters who bother to turn out. Hence the Tory candidates always win.
Only we can change that, and we must.
30/05/2012 at 11:17 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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a) the benefits b) the sense
30/05/2012 at 10:55 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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