A confidential report which sparked a review of hospital services and led to nearly a year of protests across Surrey and Sussex has been revealed - reports the BBC.
The report to NHS managers in 2005, seen by BBC South, said health services in Surrey and Sussex were "financially unsustainable".
They were heading for debts of between £350m and £700m by 2009, it said.
South East Coast Strategic Health Authority said it had since taken action (cuts) which they expect to produce a surplus.
The report, by management consultants McKinsey, was obtained by a member of the public under the Freedom of Information Act.
It made a number of suggestions for reducing the health authority's potential debts, including cutting the number of qualified nurses by 6%.
It also suggested changes to acute Accident and Emergency departments, including allowing only patients arriving in 999 ambulances to enter.
Others would have to go to emergency care centres.
Fit for the Future has led to fears about potential cuts to A&E and maternity services at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals, the Princess Royal at Haywards Heath and the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford.
The only firm proposals so far put forward are in East Sussex, where either Eastbourne District General Hospital or the Conquest, in Hastings, could lose its maternity unit.
A public consultation is under way on which town will have the county's main consultant-led centre.
Showing posts with label eastbourne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eastbourne. Show all posts
Saturday, 12 May 2007
Thursday, 19 October 2006
MP challenges Blair over cuts
Hastings MP Michael Foster has delivered a petition against hospital cuts to the Prime Minister, reports The Argus.
Mr Foster took a delegation from the Friends of Conqest Hospital to meet Tony Blair and present their case along with 40,000 signatures.
It is the second visit in a month by East Sussex MPs.
Eastbourne's Nigel Waterson visited earlier in October to head off plans to downgrade Eastbourne General Hospital.
Mr Foster's visit took place after Prime Minister's Questions yesterday when he accused the Government of "wrong headed" policy.
There are fears for the future of the accident and emergency and maternity units at the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards under proposals being considered by health chiefs.
He told Mr Blair: "We have to persuade you that that policy is wrong. Fundamentally a democracy depends on listening to what people say.
"A 40,000- name petition and 7,000 on the streets of Hastings is not only spectacular but highlights the support for these services."
He argued that emergency and maternity services need to be local for a population which was largely poor and elderly.
The poverty meant many residents do not have their own transport and an ageing population meant there was a greater risk of strokes and heart attacks which require immediate attention, he said.
He argued that the poor infrastructure around Hastings with busy, narrow roads, meant the town was not well equipped for long ambulance journeys.
Initial proposals for service cuts will be made within six weeks which will be followed by a consultation period. Final decision are expected next Spring.
Mr Foster added that he disagreed with suggestions it would either be the Conquest hospital or Eastbourne District Hospital due for cuts.
He said: "There are all sorts of options and both hospitals could keep their key services.
We are by no means undermining Eastbourne."
Mr Foster took a delegation from the Friends of Conqest Hospital to meet Tony Blair and present their case along with 40,000 signatures.
It is the second visit in a month by East Sussex MPs.
Eastbourne's Nigel Waterson visited earlier in October to head off plans to downgrade Eastbourne General Hospital.
Mr Foster's visit took place after Prime Minister's Questions yesterday when he accused the Government of "wrong headed" policy.
There are fears for the future of the accident and emergency and maternity units at the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards under proposals being considered by health chiefs.
He told Mr Blair: "We have to persuade you that that policy is wrong. Fundamentally a democracy depends on listening to what people say.
"A 40,000- name petition and 7,000 on the streets of Hastings is not only spectacular but highlights the support for these services."
He argued that emergency and maternity services need to be local for a population which was largely poor and elderly.
The poverty meant many residents do not have their own transport and an ageing population meant there was a greater risk of strokes and heart attacks which require immediate attention, he said.
He argued that the poor infrastructure around Hastings with busy, narrow roads, meant the town was not well equipped for long ambulance journeys.
Initial proposals for service cuts will be made within six weeks which will be followed by a consultation period. Final decision are expected next Spring.
Mr Foster added that he disagreed with suggestions it would either be the Conquest hospital or Eastbourne District Hospital due for cuts.
He said: "There are all sorts of options and both hospitals could keep their key services.
We are by no means undermining Eastbourne."
Labels:
eastbourne,
hastings,
hospitals,
NHS cuts
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
