Bartlet Bequest Action Group (News, Articles)

Bartlet Bequest Action Group

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31/05/07 : Bartlet Developer Approved
29/05/07 : Campaigners Fight For Time To Save The Bartlet

NEW ATTACK: Members of the Bartlet Bequest Action Group - from left,
Mike Ninnmey, Jack Hatcher, Barry Massey and Peter Clark (Photograph: Ron Gleed)

Article reproduced from the East Anglian Daily Times,
Wednesday, December 27, 2006, www.eadt.co.uk, with kind permission.

At the public meeting on
Friday 2nd February 2007 @ 7:30pm
Broadway House, Orwell Road, Felixstowe, officers were elected to
the steering committee as follows:
Mrs Elizabeth Pearce (Chairman),
Mr Barry Farr (Vice Chair),
Mr Peter Clark (Treasurer, not present),
Mrs Pam Dangerfield (Secretary),
Committee members:
Dr Janet Massey, Ms Saltina Pusey,
Mr Alan Miller, Mr Peter Mellor,
Mr Michael Ninnmey.

BBAG’s first public meeting
Friday 19th January 2007, at St John’s Church, Orwell Road (Chaired by Revd. Canon David Lowe). Seeking public endorsement and support for the retention of the Bartlet Convalescent Home. The meeting was a success with around 120 people attending, with many important issues raised and discussed, and support for the Group and its aims offered.
Felixstowe TV VIDEO here.

Launch of BBAG and Sale of the Bartlet
See Felixstowe TV’s stories:
19/01/07 : PCT Considers Bids For Bartlet
13/01/07 : Group Offers East Suffolk 'Last Chance' For Community Convalescent Home
21/12/06 : Action Group Launched To Return The Bartlet To The Community
06/12/06 : Suffolk PCT Defends Its Process For Selling Bartlet
05/12/06 : VIDEO - Bartlet Questions
16/11/06 : Meeting Told: Bartlet Must Be Sold, But Community Care Will Work
09/11/06 : Bartlet Now For Sale

22/03/07 : Bartlet Campaigners Launch Legal Bid
15/03/07 : General Hospital Refurbishment To Start Next Week + VIDEO

23/03/07 : Public Meeting:

At BBAG’s public meeting at Broadway House, it was agreed to adopt the Group's constitution, and the next stages of work were planned. The Group will be promoting its work throughout East Suffolk, including a meeting in Ipswich shortly, and seeking to increase its membership as well as raise funds for its legal fight. BBAG has also received a reply from the office of the Health Minister Patricia Hewitt MP, asking for a further two weeks to make their response. (A short clip about the meeting is included in Felixstowe TV’s weekly news review 26/03/07 here.)

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www.bbag.felixstowecommunity.co.uk

HEALTHCARE IS FAILING BEFORE THE BARTLET IS CLOSED

Increased risk of MRSA and infection from superbugs as the Bartlets closure looms nearer.

BBAG public meeting at St Augustines Church, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich, on Monday 30th April 2007.

At the public meeting organised by the Bartlet Bequest Action Group (BBAG) Dr Janet Massey reported that the loss of beds in the county was already causing problems for GPs and patients alike. “Patients who are having to stay in hospital for more than 21 days are at increased risk of MSRA and other superbugs. Also those who are being sent home too early frequently have to be re-admitted to hospital. If only the Bartlet was still available for restorative care then patients could be sent there ensuring faster recovery times and more available beds at other hospitals within the east Suffolk area. Up until recently this facility was in use by medical practitioners from Halesworth down to Manningtree in North Essex.”

Backed by supporters such as Baroness Scott of Needham Market and Michael Lord, BBAG were heartened by the turnout at this public meeting. Support for maintaining The Bartlet grows daily as the wider community understands the failing of the PCT to recognize the importance of this facility to the East Suffolk Community. BBAG were disappointed by the lack of support from John Gummer who believes “that we should be happy with the Felixstowe General and make the most of what we have got”. He stated in a letter to the BBAG that he has been at the heart of the campaign, when members of the the group have had no communication from Gummer nor heard of any action he has taken to save the Bartlet. It would appear to the East Suffolk community that he is trying to win votes by stating his help in the fight!

BBAG have re-emphasised their commitment to fighting the sale of the Bartlet. The people who are making the decision about the future of this facility are the ones who were responsible for the increasing debt locally in the first place - how can we trust them to get it right this timE? The PCT have recruited further staff into their communications department in an attempt to ward off the poor image they have locally, how is this best use of public funding?

20/05/07: The Bartlet’s 81st birthday

08/05/07 : Downing Street petition to save the Bartlet - please sign it at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SaveTheBartlet/

Legal Case Lodged At High Court

Bartlet Care Limited, formerly Bartlet Bequest Action Group, have lodged an application with the High Court on Thursday 7th June 2007, challenging the Secretary of State of the Department of Health Patricia Hewitt's decision to close and sell the Bartlet Convalescent Home; a facility which not only serves the people of East Suffolk and North Essex, and is desperately needed by them, it also morally belongs to them. The fight has just begun and we need the support of the whole of the East Suffolk and North Essex community to help us win this battle. Please add your name to our petition on the governments website: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SaveTheBartlet/ and make a pledge to help raise funds for the battle to reclaim your inheritance. Bartlet Care Ltd. is a legally structured, none profit, social enterprise company set up to fight to retain the Bartlet for the benefit of this community. The Barrister appointed for the case, reference CO/4711/2007, is Mr Andrew Granville Stafford, and the Solicitors acting for Bartlet Care Ltd are Kerseys Solicitors, Ipswich. See the front page of High Court Order from 1924 here

The Fight Continues - Update 2nd November 2007

At BBAG’s recent meeting in October 2007, those attending decided unanimously to continue the fight to save the Bartlet for the benefit of the people of Suffolk and wider community, claiming that the most vulnerable people in the community will suffer in order to reduce the debt of the Suffolk NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT). Fears have been raised over the building’s future when it is vacated by the PCT early next year, along with suggestions for its possible use - as a community run facility for health, convalescence or respite, or for specialist medical clinics, or as a military convalescent hospital for soldiers returning from Afghanistan, for example. See Felixstowe TV text news . Email savethebartlet@yahoo.com now for more information.

Bid Turned Down By High Court - July 2007

The Honourable Mrs Justice Dobbs ordered that the challenge by Bartlet Care Limited against the Department of Health decision was too late. See Felixstowe TV text news. But Campaigners Say Convalescent Care is Still Needed.