Doctors and nurses have recommended emergency and critical care should be axed from TWO hospitals - reports the South London Press.
The aim is to cut costs and improve services for the one million residents of South-east London.
The surprise outcome was the result of months of discussions by 100 clinicians from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, Lewisham Hospital, Queen Mary's Sidcup (QMS) and Bromley Hospitals.
It was expected they would suggest that one accident and emergency department should close.
Shocked MPs have described the proposal to reduce the number of acute hospitals to two in the area as too drastic and a "step too far".
The medics were asked by the primary care trusts to consider ways specialist services could be concentrated at fewer sites.
As outlined in their document, A Picture of Health, the PCTs also want to provide many hospital treatments closer to people's homes.
No decisions on which hospitals will be downgraded will be made until the outcome of a review into how extra services in the community could be provided and a public consultation is held.
John Austin, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, said: "Reducing major acute trauma centres in South-east London from four to two is a change too far."
Eltham MP Clive Efford said: "I would not support any relocation of services until there are sufficient alternative services in place that are seen to be meeting people's needs."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment