Dear Editor,
From December 1st local people will not be able to walk into the A&E at Leighton Hospital.
We have had this right for 72 years, since the NHS was established and now it is being taken away.
Unless they are virtually at death’s door, they will be sent away and told to ring NHS 111 to book an appointment.
How can you book an appointment for an emergency?
It is not scaremongering to state that this change will sadly lead to some local people losing their lives unnecessarily.
The Department of Health have said: “A&E departments will still be open for patients to walk into without an appointment.
“The A&E appointment system is for patients who contact NHS 111 with conditions that are urgent but not
life-threatening.”
In other words, unless you are in a life or death situation, you will be turned away and told to ring NHS111 to make an appointment.
The Dept of Health went on to write: “Before implementation of NHS 111 First in a local area there is extensive engagement by clinical commissioning groups with key partners and stakeholders including health and care services staff, clinical leaders, primary care staff, local authorities, Healthwatch and patient engagement groups.
“The programme has received broad support from the Royal Colleges and patient groups.”
I would like to know just which key partners and stakeholders, including health and care services staff, clinical leaders, primary care staff, local authorities, Healthwatch and patient engagement groups, the clinical commissioning groups have consulted?
I don’t know of ANY.
My own council has Leighton Hospital within its boundaries and we weren’t consulted.
The truth of the matter is most people are blissfully unaware that such a major reduction in the local A&E service is even going to happen.
Who are these patient engagement groups, who clearly don’t engage with patients, and rubber stamps a major reduction in the A&E service?
Over 60% of patients using A&E are walk-ins.
It is a disgrace that our local MP and none of the local political parties or the Labour run Town and Borough Councils, have objected to this major reduction in such a well used NHS service.
Only ‘Putting Crewe First’ and myself have repeatedly objected.
Everywhere you look NHS services are being cut back but local politicians and Councils (except my own) are silent.
Why? They can’t blame COVID.
Even at the height of the COVID crisis in April/May, only 16% of NHS beds in Leighton Hospital were filled with COVID patients.
That figure is much lower now.
If anyone is turned away from A&E I would like to hear from them. I can be contacted on Twitter @CllrBSilvester.
Yours faithfully,
Cllr Brian Silvester
Leader
Putting Crewe First
Triaging people on the phone is a sensible way forward. Otherwise you get people turning up at A&E with minor complaints which wopuld be better treated in a minor injuries unit, a pharmacy or by their GP.
Nobody is going to be turned away if their leg is hanging off, but something does need to be done about the large number of people who clog up A&E with very minor complaints.
Slowly but surely they are forcing the public into having to pay for an Ambulance every time we get into an emergency situation. The thumb screws are tightening. Not that I have ever been nicely or fairly treated at this hospital and I avoid going there at all costs. Not impressed by the parking charges. Every time I have visited, I see blood stained and filthy floors. Staff have no bedside manner and are at times antagonistic. Hospital is supposed to be a place for the sick and injured? Not to be spoken to in the way that makes you feel worse!
I’d be looking at why people are turning up with non emergency issues. It’s because of the state of the general population unable to get appointments at their GP. I feel for the hospital staff. One answer could be put GPS on furlough!
See response from hospital management.
Of course emergencies won’t be turned away. However we know that so many people walk in to A&E with issues that are not even urgent. This could be a good thing; make any non-urgent ‘patient’ wait a minimum of four hours unless they have a legitimate appointment. Emergencies and high urgency patients seen straight away.