Following the EDP reports regarding potential threat to services at QEH James Wild MP met the Chief Executive of the Norfolk and Waveney Hospitals Group to set out his opposition to any attempt to downgrade services available locally. Read below his position:
Following the EDP reports that A&E, intensive care, and maternity services at QEH may be under threat I urgently arranged a meeting with Professor Lesley Dwyer, Chief Executive of the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group to set out my opposition to any potential downgrade to care available locally.
Professor Dwyer confirmed she has established a working group involving around 80 clinicians from the QEH, Norfolk and Norwich, and James Paget hospitals, led by the Group Medical and Nursing Directors. They have been asked to develop a long-term strategy for services across the three sites informed by hospital data, population health data, and demographic data.
There has been an unacceptable lack of transparency over this work which is being done behind closed doors and I made clear this has undermined public confidence locally. As a rural area it is inconceivable to remove consultant-led A&E from QEH which would add significantly to ambulance times, for example. Pregnant women want access to maternity services locally. Health services need to reflect journey times in rural communities.
In terms of timing, Professor Dwyer said the review is expected to report in October to the University Hospitals Group's board. I was repeatedly told that there is not yet a list of worked up options for what, if any, changes are planned for services - so the assurances I sought in relation to QEH could not be given.
Any changes will need to go through a public consultation and approval process. But the lack of transparency over the process and data being used is very concerning. There is a case to have highly specialist, cutting edge treatment focused on locations where a specialist workforce can deliver better outcomes for patients. But what has been reported as options do not achieve that.
Furthermore it will not be acceptable to present options as a fait accompli without having had proper engagement during the process. know many people locally share my concerns.
I was subsequently informed that a survey will be launched this week to allow local people to offer views. I encourage everyone to do so - 1 will share the link once goes live.
The major issue I raised was the potential impact on the commitment to a new QEH. Having campaigned for over 5 years with strong local support to secure this commitment to a £1.4 billion scheme, I was very clear our community would not accept any decisions that undermined those plans. The new hospital is about providing access to the best healthcare locally and I was given
"an absolute commitment" the Group will not do anything to jeopardise the new hospitals.
I will continue to oppose any downgrade in QEH's status as a District General Hospital serving people across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Lincolnshire working with other elected politicians across the area.
James Wild MP
