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Whittington: A&E and intensive care in danger |
Will A&E be first casualty of cuts?
THE Whittington Hospital could be stripped of its accident and emergency department and intensive care unit as part of “wide-scale changes” unveiled this week.
News of the plans – first revealed by the New Journal – has led to a massive political backlash, with members of all parties across north London promising to fight the planned changes.
Documents leaked to the New Journal reveal how bosses at the Highgate hospital have warned staff about the combined impact of the North Central London Sector Review and cuts caused by an “inevitable public sector recession”.
Five hospitals in north London, including the Royal Free in Hampstead, and the Whittington – as revealed in our exclusive coverage last week – are facing a shortfall in government funding of about £900million between 2011 and 2016.
The financial black hole has led to health authority proposals to reduce the number of “major acute hospitals” from four to three and a review examining whether the Whittington should retain accident and emergency and intensive care units.
Dr Wendy Savage, a leading gynaecologist and co-chairman of Keep Our NHS Public, said: “We are gravely concerned about the implications of these changes. This will involve loss of key services, including emergency surgery, paediatrics and maternity services, with the resultant loss of full A&E services.
“We were told these changes would be evidence-based and patients would be involved – but that is not the case. The whole process is so undemocratic.”
Martin Klute, a Labour councillor who is chairman of Islington Council’s health and wellbeing committee, said: “We will fight tooth and nail to keep the Whittington’s accident and emergency for local people.
“To close the A&E department would be to cause a huge amount of damage to the community, their sense of health and wellbeing and that should be protected. The primary care trust was grilled at length about what its plans were by the scrutiny committee at Monday’s meeting. The more we asked them the more they said nothing’s been decided.”
Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone used the same term – “I will fight tooth and nail” – as she outlined her opposition to the loss of the Whittington’s emergency department, used by many of her constituents in neighbouring Haringey.
Rachel Tyndall, chief executive of NHS North Central London Sector, the authority looking at the changes, said: “The Clinical Advisory Group has proposed there should be up to three major acute hospitals in North Central London and two local hospitals. It has been proposed that perhaps fewer services are provided at local hospitals.”
Last week, the New Journal reported how cuts in government funding have forced the Royal Free and Whittington into talks about becoming “a single organisation” with a combined patient population of 500,000. Currently the Royal Free says that it sees 700,000 patients a year and the Whittington says that it serves a population of 250,000.
Whittington chief executive Rob Larkman said the changes would improve patient care at the hospital, adding: “It is important to state we are in the early stages of discussions with the Royal Free about working together. There are many options available to us and we want to explore them all to ensure the highest level of patient care at the Whittington while facing the prospect of cuts in government funding across the entirety of the public sector. We are looking at every possible option to ensure we can do our jobs to the best of our abilities into the foreseeable future.”
By an ironic coincidence, Royal Free chief executive David Sloman joined the Hampstead hospital from the Whittington in September
Another board level memo leaked from the Royal Free – seen by the New Journal – added: “These are big questions that need consideration. We know it will be very difficult to meet future financial challenges on our own.”
Mr Sloman said yesterday: “We have explored the common ground between both trusts and have sought ways we might work together in providing high-quality, affordable services in the future. We are now taking these discussions to the next level by looking at the arguments for and against the merger of our trusts into a single organisation.”
Board members will discuss the North Central London review at a meeting of the joint committee of the primary care trusts in January before a public consultation begins next year.
Backlash Angry words from politicians who fear status of hospitals is under threat from all sides
Martin Klute, Islington Labour councillor: “There’s an incredibly strong community feeling around the Whittington. Local people identify with it. The A&E department forms the central focus of that identity and sense of security.”
Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP, Hornsey and Wood Green: “Merging some services between the Whittington and the Royal Free is one thing. Denying people a local, 24-hour A&E and the services to go with it is another.”
Chris Philp, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate, Hampstead and Kilburn: “I am generally concerned that the Royal Free status seems to be under threat from all sides. It lost the trauma unit, stroke unit and physiotherapy.”
Dr Wendy Savage, co-chair of Keep Our NHS Public, said: “I don’t agree with this passion for merging – it is just a recipe for cuts. I think small is beautiful. In any case, if they have an insufficient budget, how is merging going to make it better?”
Rob Larkman, chief executive, Whittington Hospital: “We have asked senior clinicians and managers to weigh up the pros and cons. Any new organisation would have to be strong enough to protect our services and be financially robust.”
David Sloman, chief executive, Royal Free Hospital: “This is only one of a number of options being considered. If progress is made, there will be no decisions without full and thorough engagement with key stakeholders, particularly our staff.” |
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