Cuts to Lewisham Hospital A&E
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JulietP
Posts: 9
Joined: Oct 2012
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10-02-2013 10:40 PM
I've contributed - best £25 I've spent all month in my opinion.
According to a friend who works at Lewisham Hospital, the hospital in Woolwich was overwhelmed several times last week, with dozens of patients being rerouted to Lewisham because they couldn't cope. Depressingly ironic...
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lillam
Posts: 129
Joined: Apr 2006
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27-02-2013 09:51 AM
Transpontine round up: Lewisham Hospital Next Steps
Links includes links to things mentioned in article
http://transpont.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/...steps.html
After the determination of the mass demonstrations against the threat to services at Lewisham Hospital, and the bitterness following the Government's decision to proceed with the plans, campaigners face a long fight between now and the planned implementation of closures a couple of years down the line.
But the movement definitely isn't going away. While the Council prepares a legal challenge, meetings and protests continue. On Valentines Day there was a protest outside the Department of Health, with 150 people with heart-shaped balloons (similar balloons were also tied to the railings outside the hospital).
Born in Lewisham, 16th March
The Save Lewisham Hospital campaign is holding a 'Born in Lewisham' event on the afternoon of Saturday 16th March (time TBC). They say: 'If you, your children, your sister of brother, your partner or anyone you know was born in Lewisham Hospital – OR if you're just passionate about saving our hospital – come along and join hands around the hospital! Other activities will be available for families and everyone!' (facebook event)
Direct Action Discussion s
As discussions continue about the best way forward, South London Solidarity Federation have arranged 'a screening of "Running Out of Patience" - a documentary on the 1986 Victoria Nurses' Strike [in Australia], part of a series of research and events looking at struggles for healthcare throughout history and asking what we can learn from them. The film will be followed by a discussion session aiming to asses how we can put these ideas of direct action into practice to save Lewisham A&E and end this disgraceful attack on the NHS'. They say: 'As government pushes through the cut to Lewisham hospital, we need to meet them with a campaign of effective collective resistanc. The campaign to save the hospital has done a fantastic job at showing the government how unpopular Kershaw's plans are, but the whole campaign depends upon the government being reasonable and listening to people's concerns. How likely is that? Hunt has proved that he will not listen to reasoned argument, his department have made a mockery of their own 'consultation' process. The only thing left to do is take action - to prove that cuts at the hospital are simply not an option we will accept. How can we make this happen?'.
The meeting will take place on Monday 4th March at UTROPHIA in Deptford High Street (across the road from the train station), 7 to 10 pm. Facebook event details
Also arguing for collective action, particularly by hospital workers, is the socialist group Alliance for Workers Liberty. Their regular Lewisham Hospital Worker bulletins are worth reading because they are not just a collection of the usual predictable leftist slogans. They include some detailed thoughtful pieces written by, among others, a nurse at Lewisham Hospital, which highlight the difficult position facing staff. For instance the latest issue discusses the conflict between implementing cuts and health professionals' duty of care to patients:
'within the next few months frontline staff are likely to receive orders to start implementing the cuts. Those orders will be in conflict with our duty of care tp patients. When this happens we will be put in a difficult situati We can either follow management orders and risk losing our PIN, or make a judgement based on the best interests of our patients, defy management and risk disciplinary action. Each of us will have to make a decision. But saying“my manager told me to do it” is no justification in the eyes of the NMC or GMC.... There is no clinical justification for their closure programme; as trusted health professionals we should take no part in it. When you get home tonight we suggest you brush off your old copy of the NMC Code of Conduct or Good Medical Practice and let’s get a conversation going about how we, the staff at Lewisham Hospital, can collectively commit to the highest possible professional standards - regardless of what plans they are cooking up for us in the corridors of power'.
Lewisham Hospital is Still Open!
In the mean time, everyone needs to spread the word that Lewisham Hospital remains fully open! It seems some people locally might have misunderstood that services were already being closed down. They are not.
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michael
Posts: 3,261
Joined: Mar 2005
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27-02-2013 10:15 AM
Over in West London things are very different: http://www.itv.com/news/london/update/20...ent-panel/
The proposed closure of Charing Cross Hospital along with the closures of Hammersmith, Ealing and Central Middlesex A&E provision following a limited period of consultation has been challenged both in the Commons and by EalingCouncil.
Andy Slaughter MP, put the request to Jeremy Hunt in the Commons this afternoon and although Hammersmith and Fulham Council were in support of these closures,Mr Hunt immediately replied that he would refer the plans to the IRP if Ealing Council were in support.
Why is Lewisham not being referred to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel? No doubt he is still pretending that this was not a 'reconfiguration' but Special Administration (or a different hospital trust).
Disgraceful the way we are being treated (or not treated if he gets his way) in Lewisham.
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admin
Administrator
Posts: 425
Joined: Dec 2002
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08-03-2013 05:36 PM
Received from Lewisham Council:
Lewisham Council goes to court over Lewisham Hospital
Lewisham Council has issued an application for judicial review of the decisions of the Secretary of State for Health and the Trust Special Administrator in the High Court and has already succeeded in delaying implementation of any changes to Lewisham Hospital.
The Council is asking for the court to review the recommendations of the Trust Special Administrator (TSA) affecting Lewisham Hospital and the subsequent decision to accept those recommendations by the Secretary of State for Health.
The Council has also secured an undertaking that no service changes affecting Lewisham Hospital as a result of the Secretary of State’s decision will be implemented before the matter has been dealt with by the court.
In setting out its grounds for review the Council states: “Both decisions are ultra vires. The TSA was appointed to South London Healthcare Trust only. He was not appointed to Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust. The Unsustainable Provider Regime (UPR) confers powers on a TSA and on the Secretary of State respectively to make recommendations, and to take action, about the NHS Trust to which the TSA has been appointed. But they are limited to that NHS Trust. The UPR confers no powers either on the TSA to make recommendations or on the Secretary of State to take action, about an NHS Trust, such as Lewisham Healthcare, to which a TSA has not been appointed.”
Additionally the Council has asked the court to expedite the matter so that it is heard as soon as possible.
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michael
Posts: 3,261
Joined: Mar 2005
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09-03-2013 10:25 AM
There was an interesting FOI request which resulted in the following response from the Department of Health:
In response to point five, the figure on reduced mortality used in the TSA’s report was derived from work undertaken by London Health Programmes, considering the difference in mortality rates for patients admitted as an emergency on a weekday and those admitted at the weekend. This work demonstrated that patients admitted to hospital as an emergency at the weekend in London had a significantly increased risk of dying compared to those admitted on a weekday. This is also seen nationally. Independently verified analysis showed that a minimum of 500 lives in London could be saved every year if the mortality rate for patients admitted at the weekend was the same as for those admitted on a weekday. For southeast London, this equates to around 100 lives.
So according to the Department of Health this figure of 100 lives is about admitting patients at weekends. It has absolutely nothing to do with the closure or downgrading of A&E departments. To conclude that South London residents will be safer or that 100 lives will be saved as a result of these changes is clearly a distortion of the analysis to attempt to justify the downgrading of Lewisham A&E and the closure of maternity services at this well performing hospital.
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Mr_Numbers
Posts: 513
Joined: May 2012
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09-03-2013 10:49 AM
Extraordinary. And worrying. The second thought to occur to me, though, is, is there any difference in the types of admissions between weekdays and weeknds? eg, weekdays: accidents involving stepladders and bicycles; weekends: admissions involving beer bottles and weapons? Or is it all on a comparable basis, eg, mortality rates for heart attack victims weekdays vs weekends?
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lacb
Posts: 627
Joined: Mar 2005
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09-03-2013 11:19 AM
Try not to read too much into it. It is after all, "not an exact science":
Keogh response
From a statistical perspective, this makes it likely any allowance for error will swamp 100 when you take into account the total admissions in SE London. So even if the study is relevant, which as michael points out is questionable, its result is not.
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meduza
Posts: 55
Joined: Jul 2010
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19-03-2013 12:46 PM
Save Lewisham Hospital will be spearheading a national demonstration and lobby of Parliament on Tuesday 26th March 13 at Noon. Join the lobby of Parliament to reject the regulations and defend the NHS as a public service
Act NOW to stop the regulations!
For more information visit http://www.savelewishamhospital.com or call 07904944771
All are welcome
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lillam
Posts: 129
Joined: Apr 2006
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21-04-2013 10:14 PM
HUNDREDS of patients arriving at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) are waiting more than 12 hours in A&E every month.
A News Shopper Freedom Of Information request shows waiting times at the Woolwich hospital are already rocketing, and this is before an extra 30,000 patients from Lewisham’s A&E are sent to QEH and nearby hospitals.
Jos Bell, who has been campaigning to stop Lewisham's A&E from being downgraded, says the hospital’s facilities are “full to popping”.
She said: “The whole of healthcare in south-east London will go boom. It’s very scary.
“Ambulances are kept queuing outside hospitals because the A&Es are full to popping.
“Hospital staff at Woolwich are tearing their hair out at the prospect of getting even more patients, they’re stretched beyond capacity.”
Figures released exclusively to News Shopper show waiting times have been rising since last summer, with a peak of 342 patients waiting more than 12 hours in January.
MORE http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/103429...mpaigners/
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pixysunflower
Posts: 52
Joined: Sep 2010
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31-07-2013 08:47 AM
hi
I've received a mail that says there will be a rally outside Lewisham Hospital at 5pm today in anticipation of a result from the Judicial review:
''Many people will be planning to join the rally outside Lewisham Hospital tonight from 1700, which will follow today's announcement of the result of the Judicial Review into the decision to downgrade the hospital. See http://www.savelewishamhospital.com''.
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lacb
Posts: 627
Joined: Mar 2005
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31-07-2013 09:38 AM
The High Court Judicial Review is due to report at 11:30. Am hoping announcement today re mid-Staffs isn't a smoke screen for this. Fingers crossed.
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michael
Posts: 3,261
Joined: Mar 2005
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31-07-2013 11:45 AM
Word on Twitter is that the judgement is in and the government acted unlawfully.
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Mr_Numbers
Posts: 513
Joined: May 2012
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31-07-2013 11:53 AM
BBC says
Lewisham hospital cuts plan quashed
Breaking news
Judge quashes UK government decision to cut services at Lewisham Hospital in south-east London
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23518732
Amazing!
There might be some legal devil in the detail, though. Keep watching that space!
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lacb
Posts: 627
Joined: Mar 2005
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SonicAttack
Posts: 29
Joined: Jul 2011
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Mr_Numbers
Posts: 513
Joined: May 2012
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31-07-2013 12:21 PM
If anyone gets a copy of the judgment perhaps it could be circulated here or posted on the Save Lewisham Hospital website.
Could be very interesting reading to see how emphatic the judgment was or if it rested on an easily-remedied technicality.
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lacb
Posts: 627
Joined: Mar 2005
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Mr_Numbers
Posts: 513
Joined: May 2012
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31-07-2013 01:21 PM
Brilliant! Very many thanks!
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Tinkerbell
Posts: 361
Joined: Dec 2007
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31-07-2013 01:28 PM
sorry, saw that the bbc link had already been posted. Very good news indeed!
This post was last modified: 31-07-2013 01:29 PM by Tinkerbell.
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AMFM
Posts: 306
Joined: Oct 2007
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