The petition of the residents of Deal and Walmer,
Declares that the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, at long last, finally recognised that older, poorer, clinically dependent people and children in Deal and Walmer have been inadequately provided for following the closure of blood testing services and the hospital in October 2021; notes that residents in Deal and Walmer should have local access to these essential blood testing services; further notes that the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board are yet to reinstate the blood testing services at Deal Hospital.
The petitioners therefore request the House of Commons to urge the Government to ensure that Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board reopen blood testing services at Deal Hospital immediately.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mrs Natalie Elphicke , Official Report, 19 September 2023; Vol. 737, c. 1331.]
[P002859]
Observations from the Minister for Health and Secondary Care (Will Quince):
The Government understand that NHS Kent and Medway has agreed to reinstate a community phlebotomy service at Queen Victoria Community Hospital, Deal. They will launch a process to find a provider by the end of September, with the expectation that the new service will be announced in December. It will be commissioned for 12 months to establish service demand.
Within Kent, general practices are already commissioned to provide phlebotomy services at practice level and, within Deal, four practices have agreed contracts in place. The addition of a community phlebotomy service in Deal will increase the total number of blood tests available locally.
The Government believe that local health and care organisations are best placed to make decisions on commissioning services for their communities, working with local authorities, stakeholders and local populations to meet people’s needs.