Conservatives campaigned for "No more Care Cuts!"

We are campaigned to stop the cuts threatening Kingston's NHS services. Three vital local services were at risk as our NHS struggles to balance its books;
•   Springboard, which provides vocational training for people with mental health problems and learning difficulties
•   Fuschias Ward at Tolworth Hospital, which cares for patients with severe dementia
•   Kingston Hospital A&E Psychiatric Liaison Team, which gives specialist care to patients coming to A&E with mental health problems, as well as treating in-patients with psychiatric complications. It has a vital role in reducing the risk of suicides.

In September Cllr Mary Clarke helped secure a reprieve for Springboard by insisting on a public consultation. This means it is still open but may be closed early next year, unless the NHS continues to support it or we can find a way for it to continue independently.

Fuchsias Ward is the subject of a proposed 'reconfiguration' which could see patients transferred to local nursing homes. Relatives are concerned that nursing homes will be unable to provide the level of specialist care required and there is a risk that the move itself may be life-threatening.

The Psychiatric Liason Team is due to be down-sized from 9 specialised nurses and 2 consultants to just 2 nurses and a part-time consultant.

On Saturday 3 November we organised a protest in Kingston Town Centre which was attended by many regular users of Springboard and relatives of patients in Fuchsias Ward. The 'No More Care Cuts' petition was signed by over 600 people in just 4 hours.

The Springboard consultation has now closed. We will let you know when we hear the results. Thank you for your support.