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Heath trust push for Dewsbury A&E downgrade plan Dewsbury Hospital A&E downgrade plan put to public
(about 5 hours later)
Health chiefs at a cash-strapped NHS trust are being asked to back "radical" changes which could see A&E services at Dewsbury hospital downgraded. Proposals which could see A&E services at Dewsbury Hospital downgraded are to be put to public consultation.
Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has put forward a preferred plan to make Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield the district's main A&E department. The plans, by Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, would see Wakefield's Pinderfields Hospital become the district's main A&E department.
It has to save £24m by April but will still end the year with a £26m deficit. The trust has to save £24m by April but will still face a £26m deficit.
Former nurse Wendy Senior, from the Save Local Hospitals Services Group, said the proposals were "appalling". NHS Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield District Cluster Board unanimously voted to support a consultation on the plans which will begin later this year.
Two options are being considered for the trust's three hospitals, Dewsbury, Pinderfields and Pontefract. 'High quality care'
The board backed a consultation over the Mid Yorkshire Trust's "preferred" option at a meeting held at Ossett Town Hall.
Two options were considered for the trust's three hospitals, Dewsbury, Pinderfields and Pontefract.
The preferred option, which would involve capital funding of almost £38.5m, would see Dewsbury losing its A&E unit as well as intensive and high dependency care.The preferred option, which would involve capital funding of almost £38.5m, would see Dewsbury losing its A&E unit as well as intensive and high dependency care.
The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust was formed in 2002 and is responsible for three major acute hospitals in Wakefield, Dewsbury and Pontefract, serving more than 500,000 people.The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust was formed in 2002 and is responsible for three major acute hospitals in Wakefield, Dewsbury and Pontefract, serving more than 500,000 people.
The financial position of the trust has been subjected to significant scrutiny over the last couple of years and in 2011/12, the trust reported a deficit of £19.2m.The financial position of the trust has been subjected to significant scrutiny over the last couple of years and in 2011/12, the trust reported a deficit of £19.2m.
This year the trust is predicting an overspend of £26m, which takes account of savings already made.This year the trust is predicting an overspend of £26m, which takes account of savings already made.
It is against this backdrop that the trust is proposing a significant change to how and where services are offered.It is against this backdrop that the trust is proposing a significant change to how and where services are offered.
The preferred option would see all emergency and complex cases dealt with at Pinderfields, while planned and routine care would be seen at Dewsbury and Pontefract.The preferred option would see all emergency and complex cases dealt with at Pinderfields, while planned and routine care would be seen at Dewsbury and Pontefract.
Other changes would see the A&E departments in Dewsbury and Pontefract lose their consultant-led service.Other changes would see the A&E departments in Dewsbury and Pontefract lose their consultant-led service.
There is likely to be significant political opposition to the proposals but health chiefs warn that without change some services could become unsustainable.There is likely to be significant political opposition to the proposals but health chiefs warn that without change some services could become unsustainable.
Patients requiring such services would have to travel nearly nine miles to Pinderfields.Patients requiring such services would have to travel nearly nine miles to Pinderfields.
Both options would also see Dewsbury's maternity unit downgraded. Both options considered by the Cluster Board included the downgrading of Dewsbury Hospital's maternity unit.
'Greatest inequalities' A report by the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust stated that doing nothing was "not an option for both clinical and financial sustainability".
Councillor Mehboob Khan, Labour leader of Kirklees Council, said he would "stand shoulder to shoulder" with local residents to fight the proposed changes at Dewsbury hospital. Mike Potts, chief executive of NHS Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield District, said the proposed changes were "very significant".
"Communities in Dewsbury suffer the greatest health inequalities in the mid Yorkshire area, including a high infant mortality rate," he said. He said: "Our Board today accepted that the option put forward by the Trust would indeed secure high quality care into the future."
"The birth rate is also high so it makes absolute sense to retain a full obstetrician-led maternity unit where it is most needed and can have the greatest impact." Stephen Eames, chief executive of the Mid Yorkshire Trust said "radical changes" were needed to ensure its services remained "clinically safe and financially viable".
Councillor Robert Light, leader of Kirklees Conservatives, said: "We believe it is vital to keep our A&E at Dewsbury. 'Critical time'
However, Mehboob Khan, Labour leader of Kirklees Council, said he would "stand shoulder to shoulder" with local residents to fight the proposed changes at Dewsbury hospital.
"This is a critical time and vulnerable communities are going to be hit tremendously hard," he said.
Councillor Robert Light, leader of Kirklees Conservatives, said it was "vital" to keep an A&E department at Dewsbury.
"The trust needs to understand that the hospital services a large area outside Dewsbury, Batley and the Spen Valley, and that such a proposal will seriously reduce the ability for thousands of people to access quality A&E services within a reasonable distance.""The trust needs to understand that the hospital services a large area outside Dewsbury, Batley and the Spen Valley, and that such a proposal will seriously reduce the ability for thousands of people to access quality A&E services within a reasonable distance."
A report by the trust states: "In developing these options, the trust has concluded that 'do nothing' is not an option for both clinical and financial sustainability." Former nurse Wendy Senior, from the Save Local Hospitals Services Group, said the proposals were "appalling".
The alternative option would involve Dewsbury keeping its consultant-led A&E but the report said that plan was regarded as the "do minimum option".
Members of the NHS Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield District Cluster Board are being asked to support the preferred changes.
The board is meeting to discuss the plan later and will decide whether to put it out to public consultation.