Health
Health strategy referred to Government
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| Barnet Hospital: Will poor transport links jeopardise patient safety? |
Councillors from Barnet have asked the Government to review plans to shake up hospital services amid serious concerns over the future of healthcare in the area.
A joint committee convened by Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Councils urged the Department of Health to reconsider the decision made by NHS bosses in the wake of a public consultation which forced residents to chose between two "unpalatable" options.
Both options proposed a divison of emergency and maternity services between Barnet Hospital, in Wellhouse Lane, Barnet, and Chase Farm and North Middlesex hospitals in Enfield, raising concerns that the need to travel greater distances to use them could jeopardise patient safety.
The committee stated in a letter to the minister: "Whilst Chase Farm hospital is geographically close to Barnet and North Middlesex hospitals, local people simply know that transport to and from the various areas will take an unacceptable time.
"Ambulances, buses and cars will just join the traffic jams that make up north London's transport system. No one will be able to reassure the public. This alone in the view of the people we represent makes cuts to A&E and maternity services unsafe."
PCT executives have repeatedly cast their strategy as a means to specialise healthcare services in a way that is not sustainable across three different sites.
This includes the reduction of the maternity and A&E in Chase Farm hospital, forcing patients to travel to Barnet. The committee, by contrast, has asked for 24-hour A&E and obstetric units led by senior doctors.
The report also argues that there there is not enough cash in place to ensure the plan is successful and that future population increases have not been taken into account.
Tracey Baldwin, corporate chief executive of Haringey and Enfield PCTs, responded on behalf of all three PCTs to say she was "disappointed" by the committee's decision.
"We are continuing to plan the implementation of these changes and are currently setting up working groups, involving clinical staff and patient and public representatives to ensure that the benefits set out in our strategy are delivered."
"We remain committed to working closely with the joint scrutiny committee and actively seek further engagement with them in an effort to resolve their outstanding concerns."
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