With the Lincolnshire County Council Elections behind us now I can once again concentrate on services at Grantham Hospital.

I call upon Sir Simon Stevens Chief Executive of NHS England and, the Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group to publish the Acute Service Review for the future health services in Lincolnshire and in particular plans for Grantham Accident & Emergency Service.

Since August 2016 the A&E services have been closed overnight as a temporary measure due to the lack of Middle Grade Doctors - recruitment had addressed that situation but, the East of England Clinical Senate recommendation to ULHT in 2017 was not to change the opening hours of Grantham A&E on the grounds of patient safety, to which the Board of ULHT agreed with. Proposals for the last part of the restoration phase at Grantham are that from 30th June A&E will be open from 8am to 6.30pm with a walk in service until 10pm and, a booking service throughout the night. The people of Grantham and the surrounding area have been inconvenienced with the loss of services and, I feel we need more services with an expanding population and housing growth. During the election campaign I heard so many horror stories for example, where patients are having to travel to Boston for Ophthalmic services. In one case a lady with Dementia incurred a day's loss of pay for her family

member to transport her for her appointment, others have paid expensive taxi fares as Boston Pilgrim is not easily accessible.

I can appreciate the pandemic has held up things but we need to know where we stand for our local health care.

Sir Simon Stevens should release these plans before he retires in July so there can be a full clear and transparent consultation with the public before any permanent changes can be made.

Councillor Ray Wootten

County Councillor

[email protected]