‘Trust’s excuses just not good enough’

So now it’s fact that the William Harvey Hospital’s A&E waiting times are the worst in England, which is of course no surprise to Ashford folk.

Many, many KE readers over recent years have expressed their concerns over the ever increasing population explosion in the borough and the inevitable problems it would cause to the infrastructure, which have been largely ignored at both local and national levels.

In the unsustainable rush into building more housing, retail parks, office blocks etc the plot has been lost. There has to be a solid infrastructure foundation plan to adequately sustain this grand building plan.

Cutbacks in government finances are now hitting home in our area. Health needs are of huge concern.

Besides the A&E debacle it was reported on national television just a few weeks ago that 20-something doctors surgeries were closing in east Sussex and Kent and that existing surgeries would come under huge pressure to take on transferring and new patients and eventually close the door on patients.

But, it’s not just health. Schools are already suffering and local roads of course. Ashford is bad now and it’s only going to get worse.

My last thoughts go back to the A&E issue. You reported that Jane Ely, the health trust’s chief operating officer, lays the blame on patients going to A&E when they don’t really need to, the elderly because basically they are old, tourists to the area, and still more that it’s warmer in the summer so there’s more health issues.

Oh dear, what on earth is going to happen to our A&E this winter? All of her many excuses sound a lot like the rail network blaming leaves on the line for delays in the autumn, which they have yet to conquer. John Dunton Ashford

Twice in the last five days, members of our family have been to William Harvey A&E, having been advised to do so by 111 as both were urgent.

Each time everyone has been helpful and considerate, with patients quickly being moved to the relevant areas for treatment.

We were most impressed by the cheerfulness, caring attitude and efficiency. Mrs Joyce Owen Ashford

The front of last week’s Express