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A&E closure 'marks start of sweeping cuts'
Anna Davis05.09.08
A major London hospital will lose its A&E department after a landmark decision that could mark the beginning of sweeping cuts.
Patients at three north London hospitals will be forced to share two casualty departments, and a maternity unit will be downgraded.
Campaigners warned it was the first step in a London-wide plan to centralise services, and named several other hospitals that are threatened.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced that the A&E department at Chase Farm hospital in Enfield will be replaced with an "urgent care centre", which is expected to close at night.
The hospital's maternity department will lose its consultants and become a "midwife-led unit", in spite of massive public opposition.
In an emergency, patients including pregnant women will be expected to travel to Barnet and North Middlesex Hospitals.
Kieran McGregor, from the Save Chase Farm party on Enfield council, said: "This is a reflection of central government policy and will be replicated all over London. It will be injurious to public health, jeopardise lives and curtail choice. In a few years we will read in the Evening Standard that someone has died as a result of this."
Health strategists said the plans mean NHS care in London can be "brought into the 21st century" and £100million will be spent improving services.
The proposals were so controversial they were referred to the Secretary of State. An Independent Reconfiguration Panel report advised Mr Johnson to give the go-ahead in a report published yesterday. Fears are growing that more hospitals will lose A&E and maternity units to "super specialist centres" as a result of health minister Lord Darzi's recommendations.
London Health Emergency named KingGeorge in Ilford, Queen Mary's in Sidcup, St Helier in Sutton, Northwick Park in Harrow and Central Middlesex in Brent as next in line for closure.
Mr Johnson said: "The IRP has undertaken a thorough review, consulting widely with local stakeholders and providers across NHS London including the Strategic Health Authority, commissioning PCTs and trusts who support the IRP's recommendations. I am confident this outcome will be best for local people and local services."
Conservative shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Chase Farm hospital is the latest victim of Labour's drive to centralise our NHS. The Government say they're listening to patients but cutting highly valued local services makes a mockery of their claims. The decision to downgrade maternity and accident and emergency services isn't supported by local people or local doctors.
"There is a danger that patients will be put at risk by having to travel further in emergencies for treatment."
Geoff Martin, of London Health Emergency, said: "This decision is an insult to democracy as the views of local people have been ignored."
NHS London chief executive Ruth Carnall said: "The Secretary of State's decision provides us with the opportunity to secure first-class health services for people in this part of London."
Campaigners are considering mounting a legal challenge to the decision.
Reader views (2)
It really concerns me that both Northwick Park hospital and Central Middlesex hospital are in line to have their A&E departments closed.
Between them they see in excess of 600 patients per day.
In reality it is not feasible for any of the surrounding hospitals to deal with additional patients. Their services are already stretched to breaking point.
This is also going to make vulnerable people even more vulnerable. Central Middlesex is located in an area of Northwest London that is economically and socially deprived area. This in itself has serious implications for both patients and their relatives.
The powers that be who have come to this ludicrous decision need to have their heads tested. These closures obviously look good on paper but I can assure you that practically this would be devastating for all local communities involved.
- Gillian, london
Barnet and North Mid cannot and will not cope with the extra demand that will be placed on them. This is such a stupid decision - I could write much more but it would never get posted. Leave Chase Farm alone!
- Sarah, Enfield
