2012: Candy Unwin of Keep Our NHS Public and John Lister warn of the impact of the closure of the A&E at Central Middlesex Hospital. Meeting chaired by Brent Trades Council LINK
You may wonder why I am posting the photograph above from 13 years ago here, well it marked the moment when the NHS began the run down of services at Central Middlsex Hospital (known to many locals as Park Royal).John Lister, who had been commissioned to write a report on NHS plans across the NW London area warned that closures of A&E departments could be the beginning of a process that would eventually lead to the closure of local hospitals.
At the time much was made of the provision of an Urgent Care Centre at Central Middlesex that would offer treatment for less serious cases, while those needing A&E would go to Northwick Park Hospital, an awkward journey miles away.
We know now how busy Northwick Park A&E has become but the NHS are proposing to cut the hours of the Urgent Treatment Centre at Central Middlesex with the last patients being registered at 8pm rather than the current 11pm.
The proposalfrom London NW University Healthcare Trust, comes after the row over their closure of the hydrotherapy pool at Northwick Park, still not formally scrutinised by Brent Council Scrutiny Committee. The lack of proper consultation was a major issue but the Trust admitted that consultation would not change their decision - it would only help shape their advice of alternatives.
The current consultation on a reduction in hours of the Central Middlesex Urgent Treatment Centre if of of the same ilk - it appears it would not change the actual hours reduction proposal. LINK
Have your say on a proposed change to the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) opening hours at Central Middlesex Hospital
We are considering changing the opening hours of the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at Central Middlesex Hospital. The UTC currently opens between 8am and 12midnight, seven days per week, with the last patient registered at 11pm.
Challenges with current opening hours
Radiology services (X-ray, ultrasound, etc) at Central Middlesex Hospital are not available after 8pm. This means many patients who attend after this time must visit another centre that evening or to return for care the following day. This is both inconvenient and causes delays to care. Furthermore, the service only sees an average of four patients per hour after 9pm. This may be because it is well known locally that the hospital does not have an A&E department, leading patients to attend elsewhere. Given low patient numbers and our limited workforce, allocating staff to radiology services after 8pm is not an efficient use of resources.
Review findings and proposal
A recent review of our urgent care services found that many patients who visit our UTCs out of hours would be more appropriately seen in a primary care or pharmacy setting. We are therefore proposing new opening times of 8am to 9pm, with the last patient registered at 8pm. The UTC would continue to open seven days a week and provide the same services as now.
Your views matter
We would like to hear your views on this proposed change. Your feedback will help us understand how the change might affect you, your family, or the people you care for. It will also guide us in making sure patients can still get the right care, at the right time, in the right place. The survey should only take a few minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous, and your views will be shared with decision-makers to help shape the future of urgent care in your area.
Consultation Meetings
- Thursday 23 October from 6pm to 7pm at Central Middlesex Hospital
- Friday 31 October from 12pm to 1pm at Central Middlesex Hospital
If you would like to attend either event, please register your attendance on EventBrite.
Having failed dismally to hold the Trust to account on behalf of local residents over the hydrotherapy pool closure, will the Brent Council Scrutiny put this proposal on their agenda, urgently?
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