MP will challenge lack of 'Casualty' road signs to West Cornwall Hospital
09.02.2010 Following his meeting with the General Manager of West Cornwall Hospital, Alice Hosking, last Friday, Andrew George vowed that he would take up concerns about the lack of road signage to West Cornwall Hospital’s casualty service.
Many local people had raised concerns about the removal of signs to West Cornwall Hospital’s “A&E” service some years ago. During the recent re-grading of the Hospital, concerns have been raised about the lack of road signage directing people to West Cornwall Hospital’s casualty service.
The Hospitals’ Trust had asked Cornwall Council to promote an application to the Department for Transport for alternative highway signage to read “West Cornwall Hospital 24 Hour Casualty”, however, the Department has not approved this.
The Department for Transport says that it publishes “very clear guidance on the design of highway signage to ensure consistent understanding of what all signs mean to all road users – variations to the established signage designs are therefore unusual. This prevents road users deriving an incorrect interpretation of the information contained on the sign and promotes road safety through signs being easily understood.” Therefore, Cornwall Council says that it is not able to sanction a change to the existing signage at this time.
However, Mr George will challenge this decision. He said he will question whether the “all road signage being understood by all road users” approach is appropriate to the unusual situation which exists in West Cornwall.
“West Cornwall is not like a metropolitan centre or a town in the middle of England where everyone travels through," said Mr George. "If you have come to the area, it is unlikely that you are just passing through. Therefore you will have gathered an understanding of the nature of the geography of the area.
“If the road sign were to have a directional comment that said “Nearest A+E Truro” this would overcome any concern which some may have that patients which may need a higher level of intervention should go up the road to Truro rather than to West Cornwall.
“It would clearly be inappropriate to suggest that West Cornwall Hospital was the equivalent of a Minor Injuries Unit and we are apparently not allowed to describe the Department as either an “A&E” nor an “Emergency Department”. I will see what I can do.”
09.02.2010 Following his meeting with the General Manager of West Cornwall Hospital, Alice Hosking, last Friday, Andrew George vowed that he would take up concerns about the lack of road signage to West Cornwall Hospital’s casualty service.
Many local people had raised concerns about the removal of signs to West Cornwall Hospital’s “A&E” service some years ago. During the recent re-grading of the Hospital, concerns have been raised about the lack of road signage directing people to West Cornwall Hospital’s casualty service.
The Hospitals’ Trust had asked Cornwall Council to promote an application to the Department for Transport for alternative highway signage to read “West Cornwall Hospital 24 Hour Casualty”, however, the Department has not approved this.
The Department for Transport says that it publishes “very clear guidance on the design of highway signage to ensure consistent understanding of what all signs mean to all road users – variations to the established signage designs are therefore unusual. This prevents road users deriving an incorrect interpretation of the information contained on the sign and promotes road safety through signs being easily understood.” Therefore, Cornwall Council says that it is not able to sanction a change to the existing signage at this time.
However, Mr George will challenge this decision. He said he will question whether the “all road signage being understood by all road users” approach is appropriate to the unusual situation which exists in West Cornwall.
“West Cornwall is not like a metropolitan centre or a town in the middle of England where everyone travels through," said Mr George. "If you have come to the area, it is unlikely that you are just passing through. Therefore you will have gathered an understanding of the nature of the geography of the area.
“If the road sign were to have a directional comment that said “Nearest A+E Truro” this would overcome any concern which some may have that patients which may need a higher level of intervention should go up the road to Truro rather than to West Cornwall.
“It would clearly be inappropriate to suggest that West Cornwall Hospital was the equivalent of a Minor Injuries Unit and we are apparently not allowed to describe the Department as either an “A&E” nor an “Emergency Department”. I will see what I can do.”