NHS services across Surrey are under threat

11.13.00am GMT Mon 14th Aug 2006

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Cllr Duncan Clark, is campaigning to protect local NHS services.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Cllr Duncan Clark today highlighted the possible threat to NHS services across Surrey.

Councillor Clark said "I have learnt that the Surrey NHS healthcare economy finished the 2005-06 financial year with an over commitment of £28 million. I also understand that healthcare managers believe that unless changes are made, it is anticipated that this would increase to a £120 million over spend across Surrey by 2010. At the same time, our local hospital, Frimley Park hospital NHS Foundation Trust, finished the financial year with a £3.6million surplus. "

"Given the financial position, the strategic health authority has commenced a major review of NHS services across Surrey. It states that its aim is to keep healthcare provision within budget while modernising the delivery of healthcare. A number of scenarios will be provided by the strategic health authority for public consultation which is expected to start in October 2006."

"I understand that these proposals will involve a shift away from the provision of acute hospital care, to care provided in the home and community. Furthermore, hospitals across Surrey will need to review their services in order to meet 'more testing quality standards'. This may lead to hospitals reducing the number of specialities provided at each location, and result in hospitals serving larger catchment areas. We have already seen what this means for Frimley Park hospital, with the threatened closure of the excellent Upper GI Cancer Unit, and its proposed move to the Royal Surrey In Guildford".

"Most worryingly is the possibility of the closure of an A and E department in Surrey. This is an option that is being actively considered. The A&E Department at our local hospital, Frimley Park, is one of the busiest in Surrey with approximately 90,000 attendances each year. If this was to close, it would place significant pressure on neighbouring hospitals and require people from the Blackwater Valley to travel further for emergency care. This is not acceptable. Equally unacceptable is the possibility of other hospitals or A& E Departments in Surrey facing closure. This will simply add pressure to our local services, and will not benefit healthcare provision."

"I personally find it unacceptable that changes made in the NHS are too often made by unelected bodies answerable only to the Health Secretary. Consultation is frequently just an exercise in rubber-stamping a decision that has already been made. It is time the Government came clean about the financial crisis in many of our district general hospitals and listens to what communities want for their local NHS."

Liberal Democrats across Surrey Heath will be scrutinising any consultation document carefully in order to ensure that our services are not needlessly cut in order to please accountants, and to dig the Labour Government out of its NHS finance mess".