No-confidence vote in NHS board

A vote of no confidence in an NHS trust which has proposed cuts to maternity and paediatric services has been passed by a council in Surrey - reports the BBC.

The leaders of Mole Valley Council's three political groups have issued a statement calling on the board of the trust to reconsider its position.

Epsom and St Helier NHS claim the plans would make services safer for patients.

A spokeswoman said that reasons for the changes included the reduction of doctor's hours under the European Working Time Directive, and medical advances which meant doctors and nurses were becoming more specialised.

"These pressures are not unique to this trust - they are occurring across the country," the spokeswoman said.

Under the proposals, all doctor-led births and overnight paediatric services could be centralised at St Helier Hospital, in nearby Carshalton, with Epsom retaining pre-natal and post-natal care and a children's assessment unit.

But the statement from Mole Valley District Council said: "This council is deeply concerned at the proposals to remove maternity and paediatric services from Epsom hospital into London.

"It has no confidence in the board of the Epsom and St Helier University Trust to resist pressure caused by the appalling financial position of the South East NHS and the policies of the strategic health authority and government.

"It calls on the board to reconsider their position and to maintain accessible services for the residents of Mole Valley and the rest of the Mid Surrey area presently covered by Epsom hospital."

The NHS trust said a formal consultation would take place before any decisions were made.

Carshalton: Bed push protest over NHS budget

The BBC reports today that a bed push between two hospitals in London and Surrey has been staged by campaigners in protest at "rising debts" at Epsom and St Helier NHS.

Two MPs joined the protest between St Helier hospital in Carshalton and Epsom Hospital in Surrey.

Sutton MP Paul Burstow said the trust was now being "forced to save almost twice the £24m asked of it last year".

The NHS trust said it saved £20m last year and had a £21m target next year which was about savings not overspends.

A spokeswoman said the trust's predicted £7.3m overspend this year had actually been £5.4m which was "better than predicted".

But campaign group Health Emergency has warned of both job and service cuts under the savings plans.

And Epsom and Ewell MP Chris Grayling said there was now "a very real possibility that St Helier, Epsom and Guildford Hospitals will all be downgraded".

He added: "We want the NHS to realise that the strength of feeling about our local hospital services and about the future of Epsom Hospital is as strong as ever."

North Surrey: MP’s challenge over downgraded hospitals

Esher & Walton MP Ian Taylor has challenged the Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt over the downgrading of local hospital services affecting his constituents.

In a question in Parliament, Mr Taylor said: "Epsom hospital is losing its general hospital status quite rapidly, and three community hospitals (Cobham, Thames Ditton and Molesey) are being starved of revenue because the primary care trust is encouraging patients to move out of a general hospital straight home, which has led one local GP to say that there were unsafe discharges."

He added: "There are serious revenue problems, so how will the Secretary of State’s announcement about her capital spending plan help my constituents?"

After the debate Ian Taylor commented: "I don’t feel that the minister fully appreciates the difficulties downgrading of hospital services creates for my constituents.

"There is already removal of full acute and maternity services at Epsom and three local community hospitals are unclear about long term commitment to NHS funding.

"This is not a happy situation"

Presumably, then, Ian Taylor will not be approving the payment of billions of pounds extra to the EU, when the EU budget deal comes before Parliament.

Given paying 63% more to the EU is completely unjustified while auditors cannot approve how the vast majority of the money the EU already receives is being spent, would he not rather see the extra £2.5bn a year at stake spent on preventing the downgrading of local hospital services, or even improving them?

Complaining about cutbacks to services, but quietly voting billions of pounds away to the EU that could otherwise be used to rectify the problem he is taking a stand against will leave Mr Taylor open to charges of hypocrisy, likely to seriously hit his support at the next election.