Staff speak out against cuts (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Staff speak out against cuts

2:47pm Friday 11th July 2008 in Save Our NHS By Ellie Hargreaves

HOSPITAL and ambulance staff concerned about the closure of the heart unit at Kendal’s Westmorland General Hospital are being urged to speak out, after a health watchdog agreed to protect their anonymity.

On July 15, members of the Cumbria Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee are inviting representations from medics to enable them to make a more informed decision when hospital bosses ask them to approve the controversial closure later this month.

Campaigners have described the OSC’s decision to accept evidence without identifying the source as “a big concession” and are urging staff at all levels – from admin workers to consultants - to get in touch.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, who has helped lead the campaign against the controversial review of acute services which is being carried out by the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, said it might be the only chance to halt the closure of the coronary care unit and Ward 8 in August.

“I know from speaking to staff that there are a lot of paramedics, nurses, consultants and so on who have by no means signed up to the trust’s project and who have been keeping their heads down for an easy life.

“This means that at this late hour we have the chance to put some expert witnesses before the committee,” he said.

Campaigners have also been cheered by the OSC’s decision to allow a representative of the NHS SOS – Save Our Services campaign group to address them before they meet with trust bosses on July 29.

Ambleside GP David Earnshaw will be given ten minutes to present the argument against closure to the 13 councillors on the committee before they are informed by the trust that it wishes to complete the final stages of its review, which will result in all South Lakeland’s acutely ill cases – including heart attack and stroke patients – being sent to Lancaster or Barrow for emergency treatment.

Opponents, who say the infrastructure is not in place to support the loss of more beds at the Kendal hospital, are hoping the OSC will refer the matter to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel – the Government’s expert on NHS service change.

“There is a danger that as 12 of the 13 members of the OSC are not from South Lakeland, they will not recognise the strength of opposition there is against closing WGH to acute patients. People have genuine fears and not just the man on the street – medics too. If we can alert the OSC to the importance of this decision, hopefully they will refer the matter,” added Mr Farron.

Hospital and ambulance staff wishing to address the OSC at the Quaker Tapestry Exhibition Centre, in Kendal, on Tuesday (at 2pm) are asked to contact Doug Scott, health scrutiny manager for Cumbria County Council, on 01228-601015.

Only four members will be present at Tuesday’s meeting, however the full committee will meet trust representatives at the centre at 2pm on July 29. That meeting will be held in public and campaigners wishing to attend are being advised to contact Tim Farron’s office on 01539-723403 as space inside the venue will be limited.

The MP has been busy writing to the 28,000 people who originally signed petitions against the service review, urging them to write with their objections to the OSC.