Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Fears over revamp of London NHS

London needs a revamp of its health services to meet demands on the modern NHS, a government review has concluded.

Professor Sir Ara Darzi wants polyclinics - super GP surgeries - to support specialist hospitals, but critics say it will lead to closures.

The report, commissioned before Sir Ara was appointed a health minister, has prompted concerns this may become a blueprint for the rest of the NHS.

Sir Ara is in charge of carrying out a major NHS review for Gordon Brown.

Sir Ara was asked by NHS London, the body responsible for overseeing health trusts in the capital, to carry out a review on the future of healthcare in London.

It will act as a guide to London health chiefs who are planning a shake up in services as part of a wider reconfiguration of major hospitals across the country.

The clinics would incorporate a GP service alongside diagnostic tests, social care, mental health services and some minor surgery.

The review said that by 2017 a network of polyclinics throughout London could provide up to 50% of outpatient treatment currently carried out in hospitals.

He also said more care should be carried out at home, including rehabilitation and chemotherapy.

Wider ramifications

He said the blueprint would provide better care as evidence suggests specialist centres for serious conditions - such as strokes - save more lives than traditional district general hospital models.

And he estimated it would save an estimated £1.5bn a year as it is cheaper to provide care out of hospitals.

But Geoff Martin, of the union-funded pressure group Health Emergency, said it would pave the way for the closure or downgrading of nine hospitals.

"This review of services by NHS London is a package of cash-led cuts to local services dressed up as a rational planning process."
But doctors are also warning the review could have wider ramifications.

The national review Sir Ara has been recently asked to conduct was hailed as a "once in a generation" opportunity.

He has been given a wide-ranging remit, but some fear it could be used as a basis to justify cuts.

CUTS CUTS CUTS, ONCE AGAIN, THIS WILL BE PLAYED OUT ACCROSS THE UK

CLEARLY THE 30 YEARS THE HUNTS POST CLAIM FOR HINCHINGBROOKE ARE NOT WITH ANY SUBSTANCE UNLESS THEY MEAN THE TREATMENT CENTRE

THE REALITY IS THAT IN 2009 THE TRUST WILL BE DISSOLVED AND IT WILL BE TAKEN OVER BY THE THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TRUST AND THEN EVOLVE INTO A POLYCLINIC WHICH WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 4,500 BIRTHS PER YEAR  AND ROUTINE PROCEEDURES DONE IN THE TREATMENT CENTRE - WHAT REMAINS IS A RUN DOWN, DOWNGRADED DISTRICT GENERAL HOSPITAL THAT THE PEOPLE OF HUNTINGDON FOUGHT FOR AND A 2ND CLASS UNDERFUNDED HEALTH SERVICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF HUNTINGDON, WITH M.P'S WHO ARE NOT FIGHTING FOR THIS TO BE KEPT OPEN AND RUN WITH FULL FUNDING........................