Forum Topic

Plans for A&E downgrade at West Mid ??

I came across the article below on-line.Anyone know more ?--------------------------------------------------------------------Emergency health plans for London leave Heathrow exposedOnMedica StaffMonday, 9 February 2009Campaigners warned today that Heathrow Airport could be left dangerously exposed by emergency hospital plans for London which would see all major trauma care located on four sites in the centre of the City.NHS London is currently out to consultation on proposals that would shift trauma and major emergency surgery to four inner-London sites at St George’s in Tooting, St Mary’s in Paddington, the Royal London in the east end and Kings in Camberwell.But pressure group London Health Emergency has warned that the moves could undermine services currently provided at hospitals like Hillingdon, Ealing and West Middlesex in Hounslow which would be vital in the wake of a major incident at Heathrow.Geoff Martin, Health Emergency Head of Campaigns, said: “We have never been opposed to the principle of centres of excellence but not at the expense of emergency services provided close to dense areas of population and major facilities like Heathrow.“It would be a scandal if these plans were just bundled through without engaging in a proper debate around the impact on local acute hospitals like those grouped around Heathrow Airport.”

Tim Henderson ● 6316d17 Comments

Sounds wildly optimistic to me I must say, 32 minutes might be possible at 3 in the morning but certainly not with traffic. I would think if you can do it on a bike you don't need any treatment -you'd be super fit.

Vanessa Smith ● 6277d

AA routeplanner says 32 mins for the 11 miles from Brentford to Tooting (seems a bit optimistic for most of the journeys I have ever endured on the South Circular).and TfL journeyplanner says I should make it in 57 min by pushbike (though I suppose if I was suffering from a stroke my normal means of transport might not apply).Seems more reasonable than I would have expected.

Tim Henderson ● 6277d

Any guesses for the travel time from Brentford ?

Tim Henderson ● 6277d

St. Georges is in Tooting.

Vanessa Smith ● 6277d

I have finally found and had a glance at the consultation doc the thread started with :Consultation on new trauma and stroke services for Londonhttp://www.healthcareforlondon.nhs.uk/consultation-on-developing-new-high-quality-major-trauma-and-stroke-services-in-londonIt mentions consultation meetings - which for Hounslow happens next Friday (not that I can make it !)Local NHS organisations and Healthcare for London are working together to hold health fairs in every London borough. The health fairs will focus on the current stroke and major trauma consultation giving people the chance to speak with clinicians and health managers about the proposals.Hounslow 27 March 2009 10am-4pm Heart of Hounslow Centre for Health, 92 Bath Road, Hounslow, TW3 3LNThe chances of getting to St.Mary's Paddington in a bluelight ambulance in 30 mins seems a lot higher than trying to get to the Royal Free in Hampstead ! And as for St. Georges ? Where is it ?

Tim Henderson ● 6277d

Thanks Jon for what you've done - it is Mr. Quigley who has caused offence, you may care to let him know that I am not in the habit of re-arranging my working week due to imaginary rumours. I have just found an article that was in the Hounslow Chronicle 20 Feb., where another lady was sent to Greenford for routine screening although she lives in Whitton, in a location 15 minutes from the nearest public transport, she requested West Mid. or HoH, so how does Mr. Quigley explain that one? Was she hallucinating too? The staff who answer the 'phones should know what they are talking about and have the correct information to hand, if I come across the moron who I spoke too he'll be mighty sorry. Cancer Research say 'PCTs should provide comprehensive screening facilities in their local area and should take measures to provide good access for patients'. Something the ubiquitous Mr. Q may care to ponder???

Vanessa Smith ● 6280d

Hi Vanessa, no offence intended: now you have told me what happened I can see why you are put out.  I hope you do challenge them on this as I will continue to do: it is madness that the informatiuon I dug up had to be dug up and is not freely available.

Jon Hardy ● 6280d

Jon, I take great exception to the phrase "whoever started the rumour" I am not in my dotage yet. I was categorically informed when I 'phoned the number on the appointment letter to try and change my appointment from next week that after 26 March the mobile screening unit would no longer be at WMUH but was moving to Mount Vernon. If these people cannot employ staff who know what the hell they are talking about that really is down to them, either that or they've been tripped up and are now trying to wriggle off the hook. I specifically asked if an appointment could be arranged in April on a more suitable day and that's when I was told of the move to Mount Vernon  - this also begs the question that if the service was only moving to Hounslow why that wasn't offered? I am fuming.

Vanessa Smith ● 6280d

In response to my enquiry through Scrutiny AHSC:From: David Quigley Subject: RE: Breast Screening Services  "The West London breast screening service is commissioned by all the West London PCTs from the Imperial Hospitals NHS Trust.  The service is based at Hammersmith  Hospital and mobile units visit various sites in West London on a planned basis.  This arrangement is not being changed.  I informed OSC that the mobile unit will come to Heart of Hounslow for the first time in April to June this year and that a permanent or static unit is going to be established in HoH to open later in the year.  This will not alter other mobile units.  It is hoped that an accessible static unit at HoH  will help to increase uptake of breast screening by loval women.  There are cancer services at Mount Vernon Hospital  but Hounslow women do not usually go there for breast screening.  I am not aware that breast cancer or breast surgery services are being moved to Mount Vernon but am copying this reply to a commissioning colleague in case there is further information or update which my acute commissioning colleagues wish to add."So it seems that whoever started the rumour about Mount Vernon was in error.  But I will post anything I learn further on this service.  

Jon Hardy ● 6280d

You know the more you think about this the dafter it seems, Heart of Hounslow really has only just been completed, so why on earth wasn't the breast screening service incorporated in the plans for redevelopment? This seems like a colossal waste of money and a great lack of foresight, to have to go back and fit the service in there now. Sometimes I think one of my cats could do a better job than these bureaucrats.

Vanessa Smith ● 6286d

That's one of things that I will be asking.  But I want to get a complete overview of the strategy: to look at it piecemeal would be unsatisfactory, I need to see how the jigsaw links up.But I grant you , phasing out a service BEFORE there is provision to replace/enhance it doesn't seem savvy to me.

Jon Hardy ● 6288d

The only thing is Jon when? Why can't the mobile unit stay at W.Mid. meanwhile?

Vanessa Smith ● 6288d

Okay, here's what I know thus far: there is to be breast screening at the Heart of Hounslow as part of their £3m spend on upgrading services there.  So a bit nearer than Mount Vernon which I know is a hell of a schlep.Unfortunately I haven't managed to ascertain what is happening at WMUH as yet (meeting was not attended by CEO as I had thought) but the e-mail has been sentsubsequently.  Information as I get it.

Jon Hardy ● 6289d

Thanks Jon, I am also writing to Ann Keen as Health Minister. I think we are all sensible enough to understand that we can't have everything on our own doorstep, but this proposed move is beyond belief, it would be interesting to hear what the NHS defines as 'local'.

Vanessa Smith ● 6289d

Hi Vanessa,Thanks for alerting me to this; I did not know and the NHS has an obligation to alert Scrutiny to major re-configuration of services.  I have a meeting at the hospital today in my capacity as Chair of Adults Health Scrutiny panel and will ask the question there.  Will keep this forum posted.#CheersJon Hardy

Jon Hardy ● 6289d

One thing that is going to happen at West Mid is the Breast Screening Service is being moved after 26 March to Mount Vernon Hospital. This is hardly 'local' as it is supposed to be, or convenient in terms of access, in recent years it has been located at Bath Rd. Hounslow and then Ashford. I am appalled that the powers that be really imagine that women from this area are going to be able to attend for routine mammograms at a hospital over 14 miles away, this daft move could cost lives.

Vanessa Smith ● 6291d

Yes, I am currently part of a pan-London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny of the location of the major trauma units in London. All 33 boroughs have come together to assess NHS London's plans.  I can confirm that there are no plans to downgrade the West Mid. If anything West-Mid will be upgraded (by having the addition of a Stroke Unit)Whoever wrote the article has not researched the subject well OR is trying to stoke up anxieties: Major Trauma Units will be an ADDITIONAL service for Londoners on top of existing A&E facilities.

Jon Hardy ● 6299d