Details of hospital review revealed (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

NHS South West London wants to 'discuss case for change'

1:15pm Thursday 11th February 2010 in News By Chris Wickham

Under threat: The campaign to save Kingston Hospital

NHS bosses have bowed to public and media pressure and confirmed the closure of Kingston Hospital’s accident and emergency and maternity units is being considered as part of a review of services in the area.

A pre-emptive campaign launched by Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park, and Edward Davey, MP for Kingston and Surbiton, after revelations the units at the Galsworthy Road hospital were at risk of closure, has lead to nearly 7,500 people signing a petition to “Save Kingston Hospital”.

Last week the duo asked for the publication of the South West London Strategic Plan, which details the NHS’ ideas, and this week excerpts from that document were leaked.

It details that keeping four hospitals providing round-the-clock emergency care was ruled out by a “clinical strategy group” conducting the review and detailed plans for the area including three A&E units and three maternity units were being worked up.

The documents also revealed there could be a cut in paediatric inpatient units and elective surgery centres.

As stated by the MPs, the clinicians have detailed 18 options for the area - 16 of which involve Kingston losing at least one of the four services listed above it provides while six involve losing the A&E and maternity units.

Sian Bates, chairwoman of NHS south west London, confirmed 18 options had been put forward but said it was only one scenario for the future of healthcare in the area.

The leaked document was only ever meant to be shown to the Strategic Health Authority, which is overseeing the project, but due to the MPs public statements and residents’ pressure the process opened up earlier than originally planned.

Mrs Bates said: “There is a lot more work to be done over the coming months, we are gathering a lot more evidence and a better understanding of the implications of any ideas.”

She added work on the scheme would probably lead to more options for the area before they were whittled down.

Mrs Bates added: "We will look at this as an opportunity to have a discussion on the case for change.

"Nothing is final, nothing has been agreed."

A document outlining the case for change in the area is set to be published soon and the work Mrs Bates’ described is due to be completed in the autumn and put out for a public consultation.

Kramer repeats documents call

Richmond’s MP has reiterated her call for all documentation on the health review to be made public.

Susan Kramer said she had no doubt NHS bosses believed what they were doing was best for residents but she strongly disagreed and said the full debate should be held in public.

The MP, who along with Kingston MP Edward Davey, has submitted 34 separate Freedom of Information for information about the plan, said: “We would like everything they [NHS London] have.

“We are not accepting the idea they have to close hospital departments, we are saying the public needs to be involved before a decision is made that one of each departments is going to close.”

Vince Cable, MP for Twickenham, met NHS Richmond representatives this week, and said Ms Kramer and Mr Davey were right to warn the public about the potential impact to Kingston Hospital of the review.

He added: “We shouldn’t prejudge the outcome of the internal NHS review but it is essential that the process is transparent with full disclosure of the assumptions and projections on which decisions are made.”

Goldmsith: 'It's exaggerated'

The man who wants to be Richmond’s next MP has repeated a claim threats to Kingston Hospital are being exaggerated.

Zac Goldsmith, Conservative candidate for the Richmond Park parliamentary seat, said: “Their [The Lib Dems] claim there are secret plans to close units is designed to fabricate an election opportunity based on frightening the community.

“There are no plans, just a very broad review.

“It is frankly inconceivable to anyone who knows anything about health that Kingston Hospital can be cut or closed. It would cause mayhem and makes no sense at all.

“That is the view of everyone I have spoken to in Kingston Hospital, NHS London and in Parliament.

“If there ever is a threat, we will all drop everything to resist it, and if the Conservatives form the next Government, our NHS policies also protect the hospital.”

Shadow Health Minister Mike Penning visited Kingston Hospital last week and said he did not “see a real threat”.