Plans to drastically cut health services are exposed in a hard
hitting Report “North West London’s
NHS - Under the Knife”, written by John Lister, Director of London
Health Emergency.
The
Report, commissioned by Ealing, Brent and Harrow Trades Union Councils,
shows that far from improving or modernising services,
the outcome of the NWL NHS plans, “Shaping a Healthier
Future”
, would
inevitably be a massive reduction in both hospital beds and services,
without any corresponding increase in alternative provision.
Dr Lister states that the proposals “could result in the loss of 1750 NHS
jobs in 12 months, and 5,600 jobs by 2015, along with the downgrading and
downsizing of many local hospitals and services, and the closure of up to
4 of its 8 A&E units.”
Although NWL NHS try to avoid stating which hospitals and
A&E Departments are under threat; Dr Lister’s analysis shows that the
targets of the cuts are likely to be Ealing, Central Middlesex, Charing
Cross and Hammersmith, leaving a massive area of London without A&E
provision.
He goes on to say that “trendy arguments ... suggesting that
new “settings” can deliver services more efficiently and effectively than
hospitals: the only snag is that these “settings” and services exist only
on paper, lacking the funds, facilities, staff and any political
commitment to make them a reality.”
Dr
Lister will be the headline speaker at the Ealing TUC public meeting on
Tuesday 26th June at 7.30pm in Ealing Town Hall.
The report is posted below:
