A VISION for new community health services in west London has been presented to government ministers - but campaigners against plans to reduce much of Charing Cross hospital are still not happy.
Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster councils showcased proposals for the Tri-borough integrated care pilot last week, which aims to reduce the need for hospital admissions by helping people stay independent and seek medical help within the community and at home.
The proposals, praised by health minister Norman Lamb, bring together social care, community care and mental health services across the three boroughs. Hammersmith and Fulhams newly-established Health and Wellbeing Board met for the first time on June 17.
Councillor Marcus Ginn, cabinet member for community care, said: "Hospital admissions should be seen as the last resort, not the starting point as it is too often today. By working with GPs and the NHS to improve access to care in the home we will be helping a new generation of people live independent, healthier lives."
It comes as Hammersmith and Fulham Council continues to negotiate to boost the level of services that will be provided from a newly transformed Charing Cross hospital.
But Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith and chairman of Save Our Hospitals, continues to criticise plans for a new Specialist Health and Social Care Hospital in Fulham Palace Road.
The authority negotiated with NHS North West London to save some of the site and keep more services, but it will still see its A&E stripped and replaced with an urgent care centre and the majority of acute services relocated to St Marys hospital in Paddington.
Mr Slaughter said: "The claim to have effectively safeguarded Charing Cross is the councils cobbled together proposal to close only 87 per cent of services on the site rather than the 97 per cent which the current NHS decision demands. In both schemes the main hospital would be demolished, at least 90 per cent of beds go, all acute services including A&E would close and the majority of the land be sold for luxury high rise flats.
"The Save Our Hospitals campaign, which they praise, spends half its time lobbying government to stop the closures and half explaining to local residents that the council is lying when they say Charing Cross is saved."
