Submission for Barking Havering Redbridge University Hospitals (BHRUT) Clinical Services Strategy Review & Long Term Plan

Submission for Barking Havering Redbridge University Hospitals (BHRUT) Clinical Services Strategy Review & East London Health & Care Partnership Long Term Plan

BHRUT are asking people to comment on the review of the Clinical Services Strategy review. This is my submission, the most important submissions will include local councils. However, submissions by individuals and organisations will have some impact upon the council submissions. Responses will be considered up to the AGM of 25th September and perhaps after.

East London Health & Care Partnership are also consulting on the future of the East London NHS see https://www.eastlondonhcp.nhs.uk/ourplans/draft-response-to-the-long-term-plan.htm by 11 October

1 - The BHRUT Clinical Services Strategy is a important document which sets out the future direction of care at King George and Queens Hospitals. The current Clinical Services Strategy says at page 7 that King George A&E is to close per https://www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n1814.pdf&ver=3182

2 - In November 2017 BHRUT started a review of King George & Queens Hospitals. A press story is here from 29.11.19 https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/health/watershed-moment-as-review-announced-into-stupid-king-george-hospital-a-e-closure-plan-1-5300929

3 – BHRUT are encouraging the public to participate in the Clinical Services Strategy review per https://www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk/clinical-services-strategy/

“We will soon be refreshing our Clinical Services Strategy and look forward to working with our patients, public, partners and staff to develop this. We welcome your comments and input.”

4 - In February 2018 Redbridge Council published a 110 page report into King George & Queens Hospitals at http://moderngov.redbridge.gov.uk/documents/s113032/BHRUTEDScrutinyWGoutcomereport-final.pdf taking evidence from BHRUT managers and other senior NHS staff. Key findings include at page 66 that a consequence of 160 bed closures has led to damaging A&E performance.

Page 35 cites evidence that long waits at A&E is linked to higher death rates and page 24 finds a decline in patients being admitted at King George from around 1500 to 1300 since 2015.

5 - Performance statistics for King George and Queens for January and February 2019 show thousands of patients at risk of poor care due to type 1 patients breaching the 95% safety benchmark

Extracts form a freedom of information request are at the end of this submission along with a definition of type 1 A&E.

Why a new wing for King George

6 – A google search will show other areas of the country have received substantial monies for hospital upgrades. A PWC report of 2017 HERE estimated £125M is necessary to upgrade King George & Queens Hospitals. We say a new wing at King George is required to replace the 160 beds cut, provide a mid wife led maternity unit and more critical care beds at King George. A decline a life expectancy has been reported: see https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/07/life-expectancy-slumps-by-five-months

This decline is bound to have several causes, however, it must be a concern that the national deterioration in A&E performance will have been a factor in this fall.

7) A mid-wife led maternity unit at King George be established

8) The ambulatory care unit at King George at Erica Ward, be extended to become a universal service for all ages from the current patient in take of elderly frail only.