HEALTH WATCHDOG SLAMS “SNEAKY A&E CLOSURE

19-12-2007

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has been accused of “sneaking out” an announcement about the decision to close the A&E surgery at City Hospital on Dudley Road, in the hope that it would neuter protest.

Cllr Deirdre Alden who chairs Birmingham’s Health Scrutiny Committee says she was assured there would be no announcement until January about the plan, which will see emergency treatment switched to Sandwell General in West Bromwich.

Instead, Johnson has confirmed the news just days before the festive break, after receiving an independent assessment.

“He’s sneaked it out just before Christmas in the hope that no one would notice” blasted Alden.

“I can tell him that they will notice, because if someone is knocked down in the city centre, they will be put in an ambulance that will sail right past City, and have to go on to Sandwell.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that the time delay could be fatal.”

City will retain an A&E assessment unit, but patients who need surgery will have to be ferried to Sandwell; and patients who need routine, elective surgery in West Brom are now more likely to have to traipse to Birmingham.

Alden said, “they are cutting services at a time when hospitals are already struggling to cope.  Good Hope was full a few weeks ago, and I believe a couple of other hospitals were close to capacity.

“This is nonsense.  I’m absolutely disgusted.”

Sandwell and West Birmingham Health Trust said:  “In developing our plans we have always tried to balance maximum local access, including keeping both our A&E departments open, with the provision of safe, high quality services.

We are pleased that the IRP, having considered all the evidence, has advised the Secretary of State that we should go ahead with our plans subject to the implementation of additional measures.

We realise there is still a lot of work we need to do before we can implement the changes and we will work with our clinicians to complete this.  We intend to keep th Sandwell and Birmingham Overview and Scrutiny Committees fully informed of our progress.

For the Hospital’s full response and the independent report see http://www.swbh.nhs.uk/latest_news/index.html

Also see http://www.deirdrealden.blogspot.com/

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