MP criticises A&E and maternity closure plans (From Sutton Guardian)

MP Paul Burstow criticises St Helier A&E and maternity closure plans

6:05pm Monday 14th May 2012 in Save St Helier

MP Paul Burstow criticises A&E and maternity closure plans

Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow has called the review recommending St Helier Hospital's accident and emergency (A&E)and maternity department close "flawed."

He said: "St Helier's future has once again been cast into doubt, thanks to a flawed conclusion from a flawed process."

"We know that all the maternity units across SW London are very busy. So too are the emergency departments - and it makes no sense in terms of quality or safety to close them."

"Indeed, the scoring panel that met last week to give 'credibility' to the Better Services, Better Value review was told that only a meagre 8 per cent of their scoring would account for how easy it would be to make the chosen option actually happen in real life."

"Furthermore, the St Helier option is based on an assumption that more of us will end up being cared for in the community, despite there being little evidence in the plans put forward as to how this would happen."

"The reality is that nobody wants to have to go to hospital at all. In fact, if our health and social care system worked better then people with long-term conditions like diabetes or asthma would receive far more of their care outside of hospital and in their own homes."

"The ideal is that problems are caught early and people have the confidence and the support to manage their condition without the need for an emergency visit to the hospital at all."

"But when we do need help in an emergency, then we want a good local service right on our doorstep."

"What's most important now is to support the staff and patients that use our local hospital. I was born there and so were my three children. Like many people I have been touched by the caring staff that work at St Helier."

"After all, our local hospital has the best patient feedback in South West London - a fact that backs up my belief that this is something worth fighting for."

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