NHS Broken Promises

Inappropriate Patients at  Queen Alexandra Hospital A and E

In The News of Christmas Eve the Clinical Director for NHS Hampshire was urging people not to attend Minor Injury Clinics with suspected broken bones. Perhaps he could explain WHY to the people of South Hants .   

Speaking from personal experience, I received treatment for a broken wrist and a suspected broken leg at the Haslar Accident Treatment Centre last April before the services were transferred to the Gosport War Memorial Hospital . In fact I did not need to attend Queen Alexandra Hospital for ten days after my original injury. 

Over a decade of public meetings throughout the area about the reprovision of Haslar Hospital services, we were repeatedly reassured that exactly the same facility would be transferred to the new Gosport War Memorial Hospital .  In addition we were told that with the new Super Hospital a 'hub and spoke' principle would be applied. The hub would be Queen Alexandra Super Hospital and at the end of the 'spokes' in our surrounding local communities of Fareham , Havant and Petersfield  would be enhanced Accident Treatment Centres. 

At Gosport I became suspicious that in fact an inferior treatment centre would be provided when I raised concerns at Health Scrutiny Meetings about the change of name to include the word 'Minor.'  I was always told this did not indicate a reduction in services to patients.  I frequently made the further point that,  if the NHS were going to use the word 'minor,'  then it would deter patients from attending the local facility thus putting more pressure on A and E at the Super Hospital.

These facts were also raised by Cllr Roger P Allen at various meetings with Primary Care Trust officers including PCT Board Meetings attended throughout Hampshire. "It is patently obvious that the role of Minor Injury Units is not something that is valued by the Primary Care Trust and that the bare mininmum of service is being provided''

It is quite clear that, due to the confusion as to whether you will be treated at the now obviously downgraded Gosport War Memorial 'Minor Injury Clinic,' and with inadequate provision in surrounding areas, people are playing safe and clogging emergency services at QA. 

The answer to A and E clogging is simple for the NHS.  Honour the obligations given to local people repeatedly over the last decade and open the enhanced Treatment Centres at Gosport, Fareham, Havant, and East Hants, and do not name them 'Minor.' 

Posted by Cllr Peter Edgar   27 Dec 2009