Letter to Ilford Recorder on Closure of Type 1 King George Children's A&E

Dear Sir or Madam

The claim by Tony Chambers, the Chief Executive of BHRUT,  that children's A&E at King George Hospital has not been closed does not stand scrutiny.

By closing Clover Ward, Mr Chambers closed all in-patient beds for children at King George Hospital, and reduced the service from a full type 1 A&E to a more restricted type 3 urgent care A&E.

Other hospitals that have closed their type 1 Children's A&E and have been up front about the closure and advised parents not to send their children to the closed A&E. 

This is because transferring children from King George to other hospitals puts children at a slight but nonetheless real risk of worse care.

Hospitals are sources of coronavirus infection so parents and children who are transferred are also at risk of additional and unnecessary coronavirus infection.

Mr Chambers statement is at 

savekinggeorgehospital.blogspot.com

Bob Archer & Andy Walker

END of letter statement below

• Dear 

  
  

  Many thanks for taking the time to seek clarification on this point.

  
  

  As I am sure you accept, patient safety is our utmost priority and I would like to reassure you that the A&E at King George has never been closed to children which has been clearly stated on our website  – copied for ease of reference below:

  
  

  Paediatric Emergency Services

  Our Emergency Departments (A&E) at both King George and Queen’s hospitals remain open, however we have made some changes to the way we currently care for our children and young people.

  Children and young people arriving at Queen’s will be assessed and any necessary treatment will take place there.

  Children and young people who arrive at our Emergency Department at King George Hospital will be assessed when they arrive.

  If they need further care and are well enough to be transported by their family members/carers, they will be asked to make their way to Queen’s Hospital; patient transport will be arranged where required.

  Our more unwell patients will be seen by a team at King George initially and, if needing admission to hospital, be taken by ambulance to Queen’s Hospital.

  
  

  I hope you and your family stay safe and well.

  
  

  Kind regards,

  
  

  Tony

  
  

  Tony Chambers

  Interim Chief Executive