Category: News

Update on the Beckenham Beacon and other NHS services

Office of the Trust Special Administrator –  Clarification for Beckenham

After making enquiries about the future of the Beacon, the Office of the Trust Special Administrator (TSA)  contacted our Association to issue an official clarification to their draft recommendations regarding services in Beckenham.  Most importantly it advises that the Beacon will not close. The South London Healthcare Trust (SLHT) will no longer provide services at the Beacon and Bromley CCG will decide what services are to be provided there in the future. Please find a link to the clarification and other reports below.

NHS Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (Bromley CCG, also currently known as Bromley PCT) and the Beacon

We invited Dr Collins (Director of Health Care System Reform) to attend our joint public meeting with West Beckenham Residents’ Association (attended by 100 residents, Councillors, London Assembly Member, Bob Stewart, MP and Jim Dowd, MP) on 7 Nov 2012 to find out what Bromley CCG intends to do at the Beacon if and when the SLHT pull out.
Mr Collins advised that currently his organisation commissions care at the Beacon. The Bromley CCG currently contract the SLHT to provide most of the services available at the Beacon.  If the SLHT pulls out of the site then Bromley CCG will need to find another provider for the services.  Mr Collins stated that he did not expect that one day the SLHT would just pull out completely and services stop, but that there would be a transition period.  He also advised that he did not expect services at the Beacon to be dropped, however he did note that the way some services are currently provided may change.  Our MP, Bob Stewart, pressed Mr Collins on this point and Mr Collins affirmed that the Beacon would not lose services, but that there may also be an opportunity to  increase services offered at the Beacon, particularly because the SLHT  has been under-using 45% of the space. The idea of Intermediate Care Beds being provided was raised, and Mr Collins said it could be considered as there was a review about such services coming up.
However, with no firm proposals or commitment to what will be provided at the Beacon in the future it is difficult for residents to comment on the TSA’s consultation. Below is a link to a list (taken from the Beacon website) of all the services currently provided by SLHT at the Beacon. As well as making further suggestions to add to this list, there are many questions we should be raising, for instance, should the TSA be ensuring the future of services at the Beacon,  rather than just recommending the SLHT pull out?

BEACON – services provided by SLHT

Future of the Princess Royal Hospital (PRU)

The TSA recommends that the PRU go into partnership with Kings College Hospital (a well respected hospital). However, if this is not possible the running of the PRU will go out to tender.  Jim Dowd, MP (Lewisham West), spoke to the TSA about this and it appears that Kings College Hospital will get first refusal on running the PRU. If they do not wish to take it on, then someone else will need to be found.  The TSA’s recommendations do not seem to safeguard health services provided out of the PRU,  they merely seem to recommend two options for offloading it from the SLHT. Do we need further assurances about the future of the PRU and the services it provides?

Lewisham Hospital

The TSA advise that when Lewisham’s A&E is closed the majority of patients can still be seen at Lewisham’s Urgent Care Centre.  If you need an A&E is the PRU close enough? If not you may wish to join the campaign to keep Lewisham A&E open, see below.  Do not forget to mention Lewisham A&E when you respond to the TSA consultation.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lewisham-hospital/

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/41027

What residents should do

  1. Share this information with your neighbours, friends and family affected.  Not everyone has internet access, why not invite them in to show them the documents, and  help/encourage them to respond to the consultation online or by snail mail. The SLHT going into administration is causing the biggest shake up of healthcare provision in South London for decades, it’s important we all have our say.
  2. Respond the the TSA consultation by 13 December 2012. Not sure what to say… Our MP Bob Stewart suggested  that residents should just tell the TSA what they want. What healthcare services do you want at The Beacon, The PRU and Lewisham Hospital? What concerns do you have? Responses to the consultation do not need to be more complicated than that.  Respond to the consultation: www.tsa.nhs.uk/tell-us-what-you-think. If you cannot respond online,  please call freephone 0800 953 0110 or email tsaconsultation@nhs.net to request a hardcopy of the consultation response form to be posted to you.
  3. Attend the TSAs Public Meeting in Bromley, closest one is on Mon 26 Nov at 10am, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley Hill, Bromley, Kent BR1 4JD. Or Thurs 22 Nov at 7pm at Crofton Halls, Crofton Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 8PR. Or Mon 3 Dec at 2pm at Crofton Halls, Crofton Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 8PR.
  4. Write to the Bromley CCG should you have any concerns about future commissioning of services at the Beacon. Bromley CCG, Bassetts House. Broadwater Gardens, Orpington BR6 7UA.

String Serenade Concert – 7.45pm 17 November 2012, St George’s Church Beckenham

The SGCO’s next concert is on Saturday 17th November at St George’s Church, Beckenham. We will be playing string serenades by Tchaikovsky and Mozart (Eine Kleine). The orchestra will be directed by Dominic Moore who will also play a violin concerto by Bach.

The St. George’s Chamber Orchestra (SGCO) was founded in 2004 as the new professional orchestra for the South East, established in order to give local music lovers the opportunity to hear orchestral concerts of the highest standard on their doorstep. All the SGCO’s members play regularly with the famous London orchestras such as the London Symphony, Philharmonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras. Further information can be found on their website:

http://www.sgco.co.uk/

Odeon makes application to sell alcohol

The Odeon Cinema Beckenham has made an application to vary its premises licence to add the sale by retail of alcohol everyday. Further information can be found online on the Councils website at the link below.

https://searchapplications.bromley.gov.uk/onlineapplications/licencingApplicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=MD27HSBT0D700

Residents wishing to comment on this application can do so by email (licensing@bromley.gov.uk) or post (Licensing, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley, BR1 3UH).  You must ensure you quote reference: 12/00823/LAPRE and state your full name and address.

Bromley Healthcare Trust attend Residents Meeting regarding future of Beacon

Residents Forum and Open Meeting – TONIGHT 8pm Weds 7 Nov 2012 Beckenham Public Halls

The Director of Health Care System Reform from Bromley PCT/CCG (who are proposed to take over the Beacon when the South London Healthcare Trust pulls out) addresses Beckenham residents tonight.

Click for more information regarding the Beacon

Have your say – Residents Forum and Open Meeting – 8pm Weds 7 Nov 2012 Beckenham Public Halls

Our Association is holding a joint open meeting with the West Beckenham Residents’ Association. Between our associations we cover the whole of Beckenham and so have invited a panel of councillors from every ward to take your questions.  James Cleverly our London Assembly Member will also be on the panel.

Clock House Ward • Copers Cope Ward • Kelsey and Eden Park Ward • Penge and Cator Ward

Come along and direct your concerns to the panel, we expect to cover the following issues:

  1. Proposals for Beckenham High Street and Conservation & Heritage
  2. Bromley’s Budget proposals including proposals for shared services with neighbouring boroughs
  3. NHS issues, future of Beckenham Beacon, closure of Orpington hospital, closure of Lewisham hospital A&E,  fate of PRU and the remaining services
  4. Other Issues (parking, nuisance, litter etc)

Join us from 7.45pm, at the Beckenham Public Halls, Bromley Road, Beckenham. Wine and nibbles will be served after the meeting,

We look forward to seeing you there.

Bromley Police alert residents of scam involving bogus police officers

Police in Bromley are warning members of the public not to hand over money to men claiming to be detectives involved in a Bromley-led operation to tackle local criminals.Residents in Bromley have reported being approached by suspects posing as detectives and asking for money.

Officers in Orpington have recorded two incidents in the past week where members of the public have received calls from bogus detectives.

This is how the scam is carried out; a bogus detective rings the victim to explain that they are conducting an operation to trap local criminals and need money and assistance from members of the public in order to carry out their investigation. They appear to know the surname of the person they are contacting, which may make the call more credible. The caller also explains that the money provided will be marked with a special dye, as part of the bogus police operation.

Victims have been asked to provide large amounts of cash which is subsequently collected from their home address by another bogus police officer. The victims are even given a code or reference number. The fake police officer, who later collects the money from the victim’s address, will quote the reference number when he collects the cash, simply to make the scam look more believable.

Victims are also told that their money is being safely stored at Orpington Police Station.
In one case, one of the victims was also showed a fake ID similar to an officer’s warrant card.
One of the suspects is described as in his thirties, approximately 6’ tall, olive skin, dark brown hair, with stubble and wearing a grey tracksuit with trainers. A second suspect has simply been described as a black man.

Both incidents have taken place in Orpington and so far two victims have handed over a total of £12,000.
Bromley CID are investigating.
Chief Inspector Katrina Smith from police in Bromley said:
“We don’t ask members of the public to provide us with money in order to assist with our investigations. Please be extra vigilant and do not hand any money to anyone; it does not matter if they say they are from the police or if they say that they are working with detectives. Do not hand over any cash”.

She added; “It appears that the scammers are targeting elderly people and pensioners. If you have an elderly relative or friend, please make them aware of this scam and ensure that they do not hand over any cash to strangers under any circumstances.”

Anyone with information should contact DC James Coldham, Bromley CID on 020 8284 8783 or 020 8284 8785. Anyone with information who wishes to remain anonymous should ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Remembrance Poppies

Our Town Centre Manager has organised the giant poppies that adorn the tree at Thornton’s Corner (junction of Kelsey Park Road, Manor Road and High Street). They serve as a reminder of this year’s Remembrance Day parade & wreath laying ceremony, at the Beckenham War Memorial on Sunday the 11th of November. The parade begins at 10.15 am in St. Georges Road and proceeds to the War Memorial to observe the two minutes silence at 11.00 am. Our association is proud to be attending the parade and laying a wreath.

Bromley Community Engagement Forum Public Meeting – 29 Nov 2012

Date: Thursday 29 November 2012
Time 7pm
Venue Bromley Football Club, Hayes Lane, Bromley BR2 9EF

This meeting will provide you with the opportunity to hear and question the relevant authorities (Police, Fire, Ambulance, Health, Council) as to how their services coped during and post the Olympic period. We have asked them to provide us with a report which will be circulated to you beforehand to ensure you have time to discuss within your groups and to notify us of any questions in advance.

Everyone is welcome to attend, but to ensure seats it would be appreciated if you could RSVP to:

Amanda Evans, Operations Manager
amanda.evans@bcef.org.uk http://www.bcef.org.uk

New Beckenham Station Car Park to be extended

A planning application submitted to extend the car park at New Beckenham Station will be welcome news for rail users.  The additional car parking will be located on the wasteland between the railway line and the gardens at the Lennard Rd end of Kings Hall Rd. The plans are for permeable concrete and that most of the existing trees will remain.

‘Million Meal Appeal’ this weekend at Sainsbury’s Beckenham

Sainsbury’s is taking part in the second-annual ‘Million Meal Appeal’ on 6th and 7th October 2012.

Residents can join in to help tackle food poverty this October by taking part in a nationwide
food-drive run by Sainsbury’s and FareShare, the national charity tackling hunger across the UK.

Last year’s ‘Million Meal Appeal’, was a huge success and Beckenham residents’ contribution was significant, with enough food collected at the Beckenham Store to send 2000 meals to charities across the UK. Can we beat that total this year?

More Tough Choices – Council meeting for residents in Beckenham – 19 November

7:00pm – 8:30pm Monday 19 November 2012 – Citygate Church, Rectory Road, Beckenham

Public meeting being held in Beckenham as the Council budget is set for 2013-14. There is more than £30 million to be cut from the Council’s budget over the next four years in addition to similar savings made in the last two years. With more tough choices to be made the Council wants to hear as many views as possible about the future shape of the Council.

Heritage Tree on The Avenue gets Tree Protection Order

Our Association was delighted to assist residents on The Avenue in protecting a  beautiful 200 year old London Plane Tree that is under threat from felling.  Along with the support of local Cllrs (especially Cllr Wells) and many residents  a temporary Tree Protection Order was obtained from the Council in less than 36 hours (thank you Bromley Council for such speed).  The tree is not saved yet,  but now an official planning process must be gone through to ensure the felling of the tree is appropriate and necessary.   We will keep you updated.

The Council has also agreed to review other trees in the area to see if any others should have protection.

This is welcome news, our Association supports conserving our heritage trees where ever possible. They are an asset to Beckenham and it would be a travesty for any to be felled if it were avoidable.

If you are aware of any heritage trees in your road please let us know and we will advise the Council.

Beckenham Bid for TfL Funds for Town Centre Improvements

Many of you would have read our updates from the Beckenham Town Centre Working Group established by the council to identify improvements for the town. The working group worked closely with the Council and their appointed design consultants (East) in creating a formal bid for funds from Transport for London’s (TfL) Local Implementation Plan Major Schemes programme.

The bid has now been set to TfL and we hope hear whether our bid has passed stage 1 some time in November 2012.

How does the bid process work

Beckenham will be in competition with bids from other London boroughs.  Bromley Council invested £50K on design consultants East, a polished and innovative bid should beat the competition.

If we pass the first stage TfL will provide funds to investigate the design concepts further.  The second stage, is the official TfL funding assessment process where we hope secure up to £1.68 million. This will be matched by Bromley Council giving a total of some £2.5 million for Beckenham Town Centre public realm improvements.

You can view the design proposal submitted to TfL below.  This is only a proposal, a concept. Materials, fixtures, designs, layout etc have not been finalised. Should the first stage bid be sucessful any changes to road layout, bus stop locations, widening of pavements, street furniture etc will undergo thorough investigation by the Council and the working group.

Design Concept for Beckenham Town Centre Improvements

In the short term Bromley Council have allocated £250K for interim improvements, the working group meet next week to discuss how this should be spent.

Please let your association know of any feedback you have so we can represent it at the working group. The working group allows all residents to be part of the consultation process.