22nd. September 2011.

Congratulations to St. John’s Hospital and a huge thanks on behalf of the community.

Results from the 2011 Inpatient Patient Experience Survey were published last week. The results show a huge improvement in the overall patient experience at St. John’s, with above the Scottish average results in a number of areas.

The results for all Scotland, by Board area and hospital, are published in full on the link below.

http://www.patientexperience-bettertogether.scot.nhs.uk/Index.html

And at West Lothian Council, we have highlighted the improvements in dealing with hospital acquired infections at St. John’s. In a hapless attempt to discredit campaigners who sought to highlight deficiencies at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Cllr. George Paul (Labour, Whitburn & Blackburn) tabled a motion using a direct “lift” from the Stop the Downgrade website. There was no research done to establish the accuracy of the statements, simply a “lift”, and a demand that the Cabinet Secretary be asked to investigate.

Had he done his homework, he might have been better placed to congratulate the staff at St. John’s for having the lowest infection rates of all the acute emergency hospitals in Lothian, where there were no MRSA cases in the three months to June 2011, which has been maintained through July and August. But he was intent on grabbing a headline-using the same tactics he apparently wanted everyone to criticise the SDC for. The successful amendment tabled by our party gained SNP, Conservative and Independent support at Council. (Attached)

We will continue to fight for further improvements at St. John’s for patients and staff alike. And we will resist any attempts to “mug” the campaigners without whom the Labour Party could well have gotten away with the systematic closure of St. John’s.

Councillor Gordon Beurskens.

Action to Save St. John’s Hospital.

Whitburn & Blackburn Ward (7)