GP fears NHS plans for south Essex health care could lead to hospital closure

The organisation plans to overhaul the way A&E departments operate under its Essex Success Regime programme.

It says more emphasis must be put on community healthcare, with GP-led schemes to prevent illness and to treat more patients in the community instead of at hospital.

A progress report also says there should also be more “sharing” of services between the three health authorities involved in the scheme, Southend, Basildon and mid-Essex.

NHS England, which has ruled out hospital closures, nevertheless says there are five hospitals in the county over an area which would normally only have one or two hospitals.

It believes there is not enough money to fund current levels of healthcare in the county.

Westcliff GP Dr Marimuthu Velmurugan said he wouldn’t rule out a hospital closure despite NHS England’s reassurances.

He said: “I think it is coming to the point where they could do that.

“They are talking about hospitals covering a large geographical area and what they want to do about it.

“They could integrate services into one big hospital. They have practised doing it elsewhere and they did it before when Rochford Hospital closed.

“There are acute problems to solve. There is a real problem with systematic pressure and ever increasing demand with no extra money. “I put the blame on the managers. Southend Council has had two chief executives in 35 years, but the hospital chief executive keeps on changing. They come in, spend the money then go.

“Unless they bring in new managers it won’t succeed.”

Southend GP Dr Haroon Siddique was more upbeat about hospitals co-operating and dismissed fears of closures.

He said: “I don’t think they are looking to close hospitals or A&E but perhaps sharing expertise and facilities like we already do.

“I think reviewing A&E and primary care will probably go hand in hand and again makes great sense as we do need to continue developing joined up care and community support services which our CCG have already done.

“I’m sure this work will carry on with the good foundation already laid.

“It sounds like this review is a good and positive step forward in improving patient care and using the funds we have efficiently and I look forward to being involved in stakeholder discussions.”

BOTH Southend and Basildon Hospitals’ A&E departments have come under extreme pressure as they struggle to cope with demand.
Southend Hospital has raised its status to critical, the highest alert of a bed crisis, in recent weeks and is currently still on black alert.
The Essex Success Regime plans an overhaul of emergency departments with an onus on care in the community and diverting cash to GP services to deter patients using A&E.
However, a patient group has warned any attempt divert resources from A&E services would be “worrying”.
Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association said: “The Patients Association would be concerned to see any reduction in the provision of healthcare in Essex or anywhere else. Good access to healthcare services is vital for patients, so it would be very worrying if the provision of services was cut back.
“We know there are hospitals in Essex, and across the country, that are struggling to cope with patient demand for A&E services, so closing services cannot be the answer.”
Ms Murphy agreed GP services should still have greater support.
She said: “The Patients Association has been calling for greater investment in primary and social care services. We know that when patients cannot access their GP for example, many will make unnecessary trips to A&E. There must be greater funding from Government to ensure we have a joined-up NHS that can truly care for patients.”