Thank you to the Redbridge resident who told me about the Evening Standard story here
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/air-ambulance-perk-to-help-troubled-aes-recruit-doctors-8787249.html
The Standard reports that Queens and King George have 9 emergency doctors, 12 fewer than required. In a welcome effort to recruit more doctors, Queens and KGH new recruits will be offered the "perk" of working with the London Air Ambulance service.
Perhaps the threat of closing KGH A&E in 2015 is a factor in the unwillingness of doctors to work for BHRUT. Why work at a trust which is struggling to cope with demand now and has a plan to close KGH A&E which will put even more pressure on the staff working at Queens?
Friday, August 30, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Peter Cater calls for suspension of A&E closures
Thank you to the Redbridge resident for pointing out the Evening Standard article at http://lydall.standard.co.uk/ containing the following:
"Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said the High Court victory of Save Lewisham Hospital campaigners in blocking the downgrading of their unit should herald a capital-wide review of the demands being placed on A&E departments.
He said the RCN was not opposed to closures but would not support those that were a “smokescreen” for cuts where there was no clinical evidence of better patient care."
BHRUT make assertions about better care following any closure of KGH A&E. But where is the evidence?
"Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said the High Court victory of Save Lewisham Hospital campaigners in blocking the downgrading of their unit should herald a capital-wide review of the demands being placed on A&E departments.
He said the RCN was not opposed to closures but would not support those that were a “smokescreen” for cuts where there was no clinical evidence of better patient care."
BHRUT make assertions about better care following any closure of KGH A&E. But where is the evidence?
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Is the CQC supporting A&E closures?
The Mail on Sunday is running a piece here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2389145/New-A-E-shock-units-face-axe-tough-new-hospital-safety-regime.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
This reports an interview with David Prior, the Chairman of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The article contains the following:
“Mr Prior thought the CQC’s beefed-up inspection regime, which includes doctors and nurses from elsewhere and patients going into hospitals, would find that some emergency departments were unsafe. This may drive further reconfiguration, driven by patient safety, not driven by financial considerations,’ he said. Some hospitals simply did not have enough senior doctors to provide safe A&E care. ‘If you take A&E, the availability of consultant doctors 24/7 – or for at least 16 hours a day – is really important,’ he added. ‘Now it’s bloody hard for a small hospital to provide that kind of cover, because it’s so expensive. I think the reality is that some smaller A&Es will find it difficult.’ He went on: ‘If we are going to get reconfigurations in the NHS, I think it’s much more acceptable if it’s driven by patient safety and quality, than by financial reasons.’ Among the six ‘high-risk’ trusts to be inspected soon is the Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust in Essex. It runs A&Es at Queen’s Hospital in Romford and King George Hospital in Goodmayes, the latter due to close in 2015. ENDs
The report concerns me because it seems Mr Prior may have pre-judged what needs to happen at BHRUT. Closing KGH A&E and sending staff to Queens will not make the service better because thousands of extra patients will be going to Queens. Neil Zammett’s proposal of extra staff and beds per his blog here http://savekinggeorgehospital.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/a-at-queens-where-will-new-nhs-take-us.html are a far better way forward.
This reports an interview with David Prior, the Chairman of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The article contains the following:
“Mr Prior thought the CQC’s beefed-up inspection regime, which includes doctors and nurses from elsewhere and patients going into hospitals, would find that some emergency departments were unsafe. This may drive further reconfiguration, driven by patient safety, not driven by financial considerations,’ he said. Some hospitals simply did not have enough senior doctors to provide safe A&E care. ‘If you take A&E, the availability of consultant doctors 24/7 – or for at least 16 hours a day – is really important,’ he added. ‘Now it’s bloody hard for a small hospital to provide that kind of cover, because it’s so expensive. I think the reality is that some smaller A&Es will find it difficult.’ He went on: ‘If we are going to get reconfigurations in the NHS, I think it’s much more acceptable if it’s driven by patient safety and quality, than by financial reasons.’ Among the six ‘high-risk’ trusts to be inspected soon is the Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust in Essex. It runs A&Es at Queen’s Hospital in Romford and King George Hospital in Goodmayes, the latter due to close in 2015. ENDs
The report concerns me because it seems Mr Prior may have pre-judged what needs to happen at BHRUT. Closing KGH A&E and sending staff to Queens will not make the service better because thousands of extra patients will be going to Queens. Neil Zammett’s proposal of extra staff and beds per his blog here http://savekinggeorgehospital.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/a-at-queens-where-will-new-nhs-take-us.html are a far better way forward.
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