'THE JEWEL IN OUR HEALTH SERVICE CROWN'

26 SEPTEMBER 01

How many times have you heard someone say "the doctors and nurses were brilliant, but they are given an impossible job?" Well this week there was evidence that they are doing a great job. Much of the news lately has rightly been focussing on repercussions of terrible international events and on local economic blows. Each poses real challenges at local level. But we also have to get on with daily life. Our teachers must still educate our children, our police must still walk the beat and fight crime and our doctors and nurses must still care for the sick.

The National Health Service is still a British icon, and this week we learnt that we have a real jewel in our own backyard. Massive new investment by the Government is being matched by local innovation at ground level. To make the biggest difference to our lives, we have to ensure that further investment is used as effectively as possible. We should all be proud of the achievements of all local health providers.
Just this week the South Tyneside Health Care Trust has been given three stars in a crucial Government study. It was ranked among the 30 best hospitals in England.
In South Tyneside, important improvements are under way. The trust has met all of its waiting list and waiting times targets.

In addition to this, the outpatients' department has been refurbished to a high standard and the accident and emergency unit has recently been upgraded.
Furthermore, the trust is developing an innovative integrated care of the elderly unit at the district hospital, which will further improve services for pensioners in the borough. South Tyneside Healthcare Trust has been awarded more Charter Marks for Excellence than any other health trust in the country.

More cash is on the way and provides us with further opportunity for improvement.
The Government is committed to a 50 per cent increase in NHS funding in the five years up to 2003/4. But the NHS is undergoing big change as well as big investment. More than 90 per cent of care is delivered by GPs and primary care services.
The new Primary Care Trust will bring together health and social services. It will build on our best GP services. It offers a critical opportunity to develop patient-centred care. In future, GPs will be able to do more care, including some surgery, and this will bring care close to home.