One in six A&E departments at risk of closure or downgrade

[Northerner]

One in six A&E departments face being closed or downgraded in the next four years, according to an analysis of NHS proposals.

About 33 casualty departments in hospitals in 23 areas of the UK are facing either complete closure or being replaced with minor injuries units.

The plans are part of efforts to plug a £22bn hole in the health service budget by 2021. Health officials insist the changes will come alongside efforts to modernise services and increase specialist urgent care.

In seven cases, proposals have been drawn up, some of which have been issued for local consultation. According to research by the Health Service Journal (HSJ), 26 more hospitals are now considering plans to close or downgrade services but no final decision has been made.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...e-departments-at-risk-of-closure-or-downgrade

 

[grovesy]

In this area there is talk of downgrading 2 out 3 units, the one that seems to favoured to stay, was asking none urgent patients to go to a nearby minor injuries unit last week. The roads around here often closed due to accidents and there are proposed major road works to begin in the coming years it is does not make sense. Also they are talking about building lots of new housing too.

 

[mikeyB]

That'll help the queues at the ones that are staying open, won't it?

 

[grovesy]

That'll help the queues at the ones that are staying open, won't it?

Yeah , these are not rural hospitals either they are in major towns and city. One is regional cardiac referral unit, another is regional burns and plastic surgery unit.

 

[Ljc]

It's happening here again too. Some years ago we fought long and hard to keep them from downgrading Kent and Canterbury hospital, sadly we lost. We've now heard they are planning to do the same to Margate hospital.
My view is, as the population is growing we need more hospitals etc not less

 

[grovesy]

It's happening here again too. Some years ago we fought long and hard to keep them from downgrading Kent and Canterbury hospital, sadly we lost. We've now heard they are planning to do the same to Margate hospital.
My view is, as the population is growing we need more hospitals etc not less

Yeah.