Closure of Local A&Es Proposed by NHS

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Charing Cross, Ealing and Hammersmith to cease operating

The number of Accident and Emergency services in the local area looks set to be cut drastically following the publication of a report into health care in North West London.

The report entitled "Shaping a Healthier Future" is recommending that Charing Cross, Ealing, Hammersmith and Central Middlesex hospitals should no longer deal with emergency cases leaving West Middlesex and Chelsea & Westminster as the two main A&E centres for the West of London.

The recommendations come as a result of the local NHS needing to cut costs by around £1 billion over the next few years.

Under the proposals some hospitals will have 'super units' with a higher concentration of expertise with more consultants and larger teams. Charing Cross and Ealing hospitals are to be classified as local hospitals, with urgent care centres. Hammersmith would be a specialist centre

Anne Rainsberry, chief executive for NHS NW London, said: "This isn't about cutting corners or getting away with the bare minimum. We want to change the way we deliver care so that outcomes are improved. More care should be delivered closer to home and, by also centralising some specialist hospital-based services, the NHS can ensure that people can benefit from receiving treatment at centres of best practice and excellence."

The local authorities in both Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham have pledged to fight the plan which is due to be put to the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (PCT) on Monday for approval, before a public consultation starting in July with a final decision on the proposed changes being made early in 2013.

June 22, 2012