Here we go again

Here we go again – I’m late with this one. The next door ‘Trust’ to Ashford and St. Peter’s is Epsom – it has better outcomes than Ashford but is in a worse financial state – there is probably a correlation there – you get what you pay for.

Plan ‘A’ was to merge the trusts and let Ashford close Epsom down and sell the land.

That fell through when the scale of the problem came out.

Now here’s Plan ‘B’.

Not much different;

 

Epsom Hospital decision slammed

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Leatherhead Advertiser

 by Jennifer Hardwick

CAMPAIGNERS battling to save Epsom Hospital's A&E and maternity units have hit out at a decision made by senior doctors and NHS staff.

The governing board of the Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) met at Epsom Downs racecourse last Friday to discuss the Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review, which has recommended the closure of the hospital's A&E and maternity ward.

The board voted to send three of its members to a meeting of all seven CCGs affected by the BSBV proposals next month, where it will be decided whether the divisive plans will go to public consultation.

The decision angered campaigners who felt the board could have voted against the action and stopped the joint committee altogether.

The decision to delegate the responsibility to three members – chief officer Miles Freeman, lay member Gavin Cookman and Dr Simon Williams – was also branded "undemocratic".

Ashtead's MP Chris Grayling said: "Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the representatives of local GPs agreed to move to the next stage of the process, which will almost certainly confirm that there will be a public consultation on downgrading Epsom Hospital.

"What was most disappointing was that the GP representatives made part of the case for change on the basis of factually-incorrect evidence, despite being challenged on accuracy."

Some 700 concerned residents attended the meeting to hear the debate unfold, as protesters stood outside beforehand holding signs reading "Patients will die" and "Save our A&E".

Four other CCGs have already voted to send delegates to the committee in June.

It comes as 7,000 people demonstrated against NHS cuts in London on Saturday.

Campaigners marched from the South Bank to Whitehall, backed by the London Labour Party and trade unions.

Epsom Hospital has been included in the BSBV review of healthcare in south-west London after an attempt to merge it with Surrey's Ashford and St Peter's hospitals fell through last November.

Richard Donelly, from campaign group Keep Our NHS Public, said: "The purpose of the demonstration was to bring together all the local campaigners in London and the Home Counties and to get beyond those barriers and the individual closures."

Following the meeting, Dr Claire Fuller, clinical chair of the Surrey Downs CCG told the Advertiser: "We understand some residents are worried about what any proposed changes could mean for local people, but we believe there is an opportunity to improve care, and it would be wrong for us to ignore this.

"At Friday's meeting our governing body discussed the proposals that have been developed and took the decision to delegate authority to three members.

"These three members will be part of the decision-making process that would determine whether the programme moves forward to consultation.

"If changes are proposed, we will be encouraging local people to have their say and tell us what they think as part of a three-month public consultation later in the year."

Closing Accident and Emergency costs lives  and if you don’t believe me I’ll put a post up here to prove it. It would also mean that patients from Epsom and area would be heading off to St Peter’s – as if they are quiet there.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

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