Chase Farm - Labour Give Go-Ahead to A&E Closure

The news that Accident and Emergency services at Chase Farm hospital are to be axed has been met with widespread disgust. The long awaited independent report into the reconfiguration of services at Chase Farm Hospital was published on Thursday 4th September and the outcome could not have been bleaker.

The report's main recommendation endorses the plans which will see Chase Farm lose valuable front line services, leaving patients in Enfield having to travel further to receive treatment. Moreover, Chase Farmwill offer no Accident and Emergency services at all. Up until last week, the government was insisting that there would be a 12 hour service at the hospital, but now those plans have been scrapped. The downgrading of the hospital is a devastating blow to health services in Enfield and will leave the borough with just one AaE.

Reacting to the report, Enfield Southgate MP, David Burrowes said that he was "dismayed" by the decision and said that it showed that the Labour government was ignoring the needs of patients.

Hesaid, "It is a travesty that the views of my constituents have not been listened to by the Government. The Health Secretary has just rubber stamped the PCT's proposals to close AaE and downgrade maternity services. Alan Johnson has either ignored the concerns of Enfield or dismissed them without good reason.

Alan Johnson's letter to me informing me of his decision could not even get the name of our area right by making reference to the proposals for East Sussex rather than Enfield. It is a 'copy and paste' decision by this Labour Government who are intent on imposing their nationwide policy of centralising AaE and maternity services.

Not only are we losing AaE at Chase Farm, but the Health Secretary cannot even provide a cast iron commitment to keep a midwife led birthing unit. The cruel message from the government is that if you have an emergency or are pregnant, don't go to Chase Farm."

The inquiry was triggered following a letter from Cllr Anne Marie Pearce, Chairman of the Health Scrutiny Board, to the health secretary, Alan Johnson in March 2008. After receiving the report, Mr Johnson gave his approval for the downgrade in services. He said, "I support the recommendation of the IRB report for the proposals to centralise AaE services on two sites at Barnet Hospital and North Middlesex Hospital."

The report demonstrates that residents of Enfield have been consistently lied to. Despite years of campaigning with thousands of people marching through the streets of Enfield and thousands more signing petitions against the closures, their wishes to retain services at Chase Farm have simply been ignored.

STOP PRESS! On 23rd October, a discussion will be held on the topic of Chase Farm Hospital. Guest speakers include David Burrowes MP and Cllr Kate Wilkinson.
For more details, please click here

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