NHS bosses have said Charing Cross Hospital will be replaced by a new £150 million hospital and there are no plans to close its A&E.
Dr Tracey Batten, chief executive of the hospital’s governing body, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, has hit out at comments made by Labour Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter to getwestlondon over proposals released on Thursday (July 24) evening by the trust.
But the MP maintains Imperial has failed to listen to west Londoners pleas to keep the hospital’s services as they are.
SELLING OFF CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL LAND
Under the Shaping a Healthier Future programme, the draft strategy revealed 55 per cent of the hospital’s site could be sold and space reduced by more than 75 per cent, leading Mr Slaughter to say the proposals ‘are worse than we were recently led to believe’.
But Imperial has defended itself, saying the current building would be replaced with a £150 million development better designed for the changing health needs of the population.
Dr Batten said: “A foreword to the draft clinical strategy, signed by myself and the trust’s most senior medical and nursing leads, makes clear that the status quo is not an option if the trust is to respond to changing health needs and continue to provide high quality care.”
If the plans are approved this Wednesday (July 30), it will be at least one year before finances are centrally approved for new, purpose-built facilities at both Charing Cross and St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.
A spokeswoman for Imperial, said: “Our proposals mean the sale of some land at Charing Cross and St Mary’s will help fund new, purpose-built facilities which make better use of the estate, including a £150m development at Charing Cross. We would also add 127 beds at our other hospitals and provide more and better care out of hospital.”
‘A&E DEPARTMENT TO STAY’
Mr Slaughter accused the trust of being ‘misleading and dangerous’ as it said services, especially its A&E department, will be changing rather than closing.
But the Imperial spokeswoman added: “There is no proposal in our draft clinical strategy to close the A&E at Charing Cross Hospital. We are awaiting further guidance from NHS England to guide the development of emergency services appropriate for a local hospital.
“Following the closure of Hammersmith A&E, we have prepared extra capacity at St Mary’s nearby for around 13 extra admissions a day by opening a 15 bed ward.”
The Shaping a Healthier Future programme was approved by Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, last October.
A spokesman for the department added: “Under ‘Shaping a Healthier Future’ Charing Cross Hospital will be redeveloped as a 21st century healthcare facility. These changes have been led by local doctors and nurses and will ensure the best possible care for patients.”
Mr Slaughter slated Imperial’s reaction, saying: “In this response, Imperial have failed to refute any of the facts that getwestlondon reported in the original article. Throughout this whole process they have failed to listen to west Londoners and now they are failing to reassure the public.”
The proposals are set to be approved by Imperial at a meeting at Hammersmith Hospital on Wednesday (July 30) morning.
A major public information campaign to let people know Hammersmith and Central Middlesex’s A&Es are both closing on September 10 is launching today (July 28). International advertising agency, M&C Saatchi, has been employed , with 285,000 leaflets and 312,000 pharmacy bags being distributed in the area. Adverts will be put on 30 bus routes and on over 100 poster and billboard sites.
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