Forum Topic

Local hospital casualty depts - CLOSING

Dear friends,Have a look at this:https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/NHS-NW-London-hospitalsHammersmith and Charing Cross casualty departments are in trouble - the NHS North West London are planning on closing the borough’s only two casualty departments.Health bosses have admitted it could take up to 53 minutes longer to get to a hospital. It doesn’t take a doctor to predict that in the case of an emergency, the best part of an hour could mean the difference between life and death.They’re getting ready to make their decision and have asked what local people think. Now’s our chance to work together to protect these vital services. Can you add your name to the petition? Every name will increase our chances of protecting our local hospitals.Now’s our chance to work together to protect these vital services. Can you add your name to the petition? Every name will increase our chances of protecting our local hospitals.https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/NHS-NW-London-hospitalsThanks,

G Palmer ● 5125d9 Comments

About the only A&E department that does not appear to be threatened at present is at Northwick Park, but that is some distance away on the wrong side of several road bottlenecks. Even single ambulances often struggle to get along the major routes, yet a major disaster such as a fire or train crash may need a large number of emergency vehicles.

Chris Bell ● 5125d

This is all anout saving money not about saving lives!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5125d

There may have been discussions about scheduling all accidents and emergencies off-peak.

Chris Bell ● 5125d

I live in Acton. Please help, I have a serious condition that needs life saving intervention in hospital, not stabilization in an ambulance, please get me to Charing Cross, journey time 15 mins.  Sorry you have to go to Northwick Park.  The route, Horn Lane to Gypsy Corner, along the A40 to Hanger Lane, along the Ealing Road, Wembely High Road to the Watford Road, around the roundabout at Kenton Bridge, back along the Watford Road into Northwick Park A&E!!!!!Like to see an ambulance do that in 15 mins.What has happened to the consultation forms that were supposed to be sent out?  All 86+ pages of it.Does anyone know if there is a petition that can be signed at Charing Cross, as I have an appointment on the 20th, for the lumber facet joint injections (it's only taken nine months.)Closing Charing Cross will be putting lives at risk for us Actonians.  Has there been any thought put into visiting patients and the distress that will be caused, by lack of visits and, the follow-up out-patient treatment?

Nicola Howard ● 5125d

Don't know about a petition at Charing X but we have a stall at Acton market every Saturday between 11.30 and 2 to collect signatures for the petition to stop the closure of all 4 A&E departments closest to Acton. Everyone is welcome to come along and sign. In addition there is a local demonstration planned for Saturday 15 September, meeting in Acton Park from 11 am, walking to Ealing Common for a rally at 1pm with live music and local speakers. Please come along, bring banners, placards and your neighbours!

Chris Hurley ● 5124d

I would rather be taken further in an ambulance to a hospital that had specialists, rather than being taken five minutes to a hospital that didn't have specialists, which is the case now.Ambulances these days have a lot more equipment and paramedics are trained in emergency treatment.  Have you ever seen a road accident?  The paramedics treat at the scene, on the road, before stabalising and taking the patient to hospital.  Yes, ten years ago it was the case that the patient had to get to hospital urgently because the ambulancemen were just a delivery service. Today things are much improved.  A few more minutes in an ambulance isn't going to make much difference.  When an air ambulance is called out, they fly miles to get specialist care from a specialist hospital.  What's the difference?  Yes there's traffic on roads and not in the sky, but it's not like they're closing Ealing and sending us to Scotland!

Sarah Harris ● 5124d

Sarah, you're spot on - that's why 1/3 more people survive a cardiac arrest now in London compared to 5 years ago. The whole distance to hospital thing is a convenient red herring for politicians and clinicians as it enables them to deliberately panic patients - for most emergency care the difference in outcomes for patients in rural areas (with the furthest to travel to a hospital) is often similar to patients in urban areas. As you say, it's the care given by paramedics that's counts - and getting the right specialists involved to assess the patient when they arrive at hospital. As Ealing hospital shows perfectly, proximity bears no relation to outcomes as most patients live within 3 miles yet the outcomes are terrible. This is also the case for non emergency medicine at Ealing - it's in the bottom 10 worst hospitals in the whole country for cancer care as well - the root cause of both of these is the poor culture amongst clinicians and managers and a lack of focus on the patient. As it happens, Ealing also happens to be one of the worst performing trusts for patients experiencing harm whilst in NHS care - it really is hard to understand why the local council and population are campaigning to "save" a hospital that harms patients, gives poor cancer services and continues to offer a wholly unacceptable level of care in Emergency Medicine.

Tony Gould ● 5124d

i share your concerns too...both CX and Ealing have saved my lifeG Palmer's message 4/9 has secure.38 web address.

Carol Mayhew ● 5123d

I am an octogenarian and would be completely isolated if admitted to some far flung hospital. My friends no longer drive, could not cope with travelling on public transport and could not afford a mini cab.I have a complex medical history and medical conditions. which even my consultants with all my test results, past medical history and notes in front of them have difficulty in deciding the best way forward. I dread to think how a  hospital without this  vital information could make an informative decision as to treatment or  surgery. Thankfully I am still mentally alert  and can stick up for myself. There are  many in my age  group could not due to diminished mental ability.

Beryl Bashford ● 5123d