Latest news with #AnnaSabine
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Somerset community hospital beds could close as trust reviews services
The number of inpatient beds at two community hospitals could be cut by a third if proposals go ahead. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed it is in the "very early" stages of a consultation to reduce beds at Frome Community Hospital from 24 to 16, with a similar number of beds under threat at West Mendip Hospital in trust said it was looking at the "mix and balance" of its community services after an "increase" in people being cared for at MP for Frome and East Somerset Anna Sabine has set up a petition to stop what she described as "short-sighted" proposals, which she claimed could also see a number of job cuts. Ms Sabine, who has launched the petition alongside councillor for Frome North Adam Boyden, claimed the closures were being proposed because too few patients were being discharged from Bath's Royal United Hospital (RUH) to she said that when she toured the RUH - which is run by a different NHS authority to Frome - she was told their main problem is that they do not have suitable places to discharge patients into."We know the Royal United Hospitals struggle to discharge people and yet we're closing beds which would help this," she Sabine said she is concerned that there is "a lack of joined up discussion" between Somerset NHS and the RUH. 'Well thought out plan' However the MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, Sarah Dyke, whose constituency includes West Mendip Hospital, has given the proposals a cautious said while she understood residents might be "concerned" at the planned bed closures, after an urgent meeting with the hospital trust's chief executive last week she believed the "overall direction of movement" was "the right one"."He has reassured me that this isn't a cost cutting exercise, but part of a well thought out strategic plan to shift reliance on community beds, moving the balance of care back to the home. But only when people are well enough to leave acute care within the hospital setting."She added that she understands "the funds and staff previously used for community hospital beds will be redeployed to make sure there are enough services in the community to facilitate this shift". But Ms Sabine said while Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has promised more services at community hospitals across the county - this is not necessarily for Frome. "We suffer a little bit from being on the edge of Somerset and working with a hospital that is not in control by the same organisation and therefore we haven't had that guarantee," she said."It worries me that this is another example of Frome being short changed."She said the "short-sighted" approach to reduce beds in Frome did not take into account the difficulty people have getting to the RUH by public transport."Our hospitals don't need fewer beds, they need proper investment," she added. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust told the BBC the proposal aims to "ensure" community care is offered "in the most appropriate setting".A spokesperson said there has been an increase in people receiving care at home in recent years as well as "significant investment" in services to support patients at home following an acute hospital admission."We are therefore looking at the range, mix and balance of NHS services that are provided in people's own homes, community hospital services and community hospital beds," they said."As a result, we are adjusting the number of beds that we are providing in some community hospitals to better match the demand, which includes a proposed reduction of eight beds at Frome Community Hospital, from 24 to 16."Alongside this, we are also looking at what other services we could provide in our community hospital settings, that are currently provided in the two main acute hospitals as we look to provide services more locally where it makes sense and is feasible to do so."Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust has been approached for comment.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Bus pass policy change will benefit 13,000 people
An MP has welcomed a decision to allow people with disabilities to use their bus passes 24/7. The Liberal Democrat MP for Frome & East Somerset, Anna Sabine, said the decision by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to extend the use of Diamond bus passes would make people feel "more supported". Ms Sabine had called on local authorities and the Department of Transport (DfT) to make changes after visiting Radstock charity Swallow, which works with teenagers and adults with learning difficulties. "The young people I met were doing brilliant things and it just seemed unfair that there was an assumption they wouldn't need to get about at certain times," said Ms Sabine. Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England, announced the Diamond bus passes would be available 24/7, as part of the authority's wider proposals to improve bus services in the area. It will be funded through the £13.6 million of Bus Grant funding secured by the authority for the coming financial year from the government. Mr Norris said: "Frozen fares for children, the extension of free travel for disabled people, an extra year of free travel for care leavers, and a cap for multi-operator day tickets will be great news for people across our region. "These initiatives, alongside the enormous popularity of Birthday Buses, will help keep more money in people's pockets and help make it that bit easier for local people to get around by bus. That's better for passengers, better for congestion, and better for our planet." There are approximately 13,000 Diamond pass holders in the WECA area, and the authority has previously restricted use of the Diamond passes to after 09:00. Diamond pass holder Hetty Pratt has a disability and lives in assisted accommodation with Swallow but needs to catch a bus into Bath at 05:50 every morning for work. "I really want a job so that I can be independent and show people that I can live on my own" said Hetty. "Without the bus I wouldn't be able to get to work and it costs a lot of money." Ms Sabine said: "The two young people I met aren't working brilliantly high-paid jobs and the bus pass really makes a huge difference to them," said Ms Sabine. "People with disabilities often have that bus pass because they can't drive, and it's there only means to get into employment." "As a society it's pretty fair of us to support them getting out into work if they can and they want to." The move comes alongside a freeze in the price of child fares, an extension of free travel for care leavers and a cap on multi-operator bus tickets. The DfT provisionally sets the hours that disabled bus passes can be used but local authorities have the ability to change this. A spokesperson said that they "fully recognise bus passes are vital to many" for access to work, services and keeping people connected. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Bus passengers 'losing patience' with service reforms Birthday Bus Pass to be extended despite criticism Children walking due to lack of school bus cash Swallow WECA
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Diamond bus pass hours extended in West of England
An MP has welcomed a decision to allow people with disabilities to use their bus passes 24/ Liberal Democrat MP for Frome & East Somerset, Anna Sabine, said the decision by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to extend the use of Diamond bus passes would make people feel "more supported".Ms Sabine had called on local authorities and the Department of Transport (DfT) to make changes after visiting Radstock charity Swallow, which works with teenagers and adults with learning difficulties."The young people I met were doing brilliant things and it just seemed unfair that there was an assumption they wouldn't need to get about at certain times," said Ms Sabine. There are approximately 13,000 Diamond pass holders in the WECA had previously restricted use of the Diamond passes to after 09: pass holder Hetty Pratt has a disability and lives in assisted accommodation with Swallow but needs to catch a bus into Bath at 05:50 every morning for work."I really want a job so that I can be independent and show people that I can live on my own" said Hetty."Without the bus I wouldn't be able to get to work and it costs a lot of money."Ms Sabine said: "The two young people I met aren't working brilliantly high-paid jobs and the bus pass really makes a huge difference to them," said Ms Sabine."People with disabilities often have that bus pass because they can't drive, and it's there only means to get into employment.""As a society it's pretty fair of us to support them getting out into work if they can and they want to."The move comes alongside a freeze in the price of child fares, an extension of free travel for care leavers and a cap on multi-operator bus DfT provisionally sets the hours that disabled bus passes can be used but local authorities have the ability to change this.A spokesperson said that they "fully recognise bus passes are vital to many" for access to work, services and keeping people connected.
