MP calls for inquiry into Wharfedale Hospital privatisation plans (From Wharfedale Observer)

MP calls for inquiry into Wharfedale Hospital privatisation plans

10:26am Thursday 19th June 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

AN INQUIRY into the proposed privatisation of part of Wharfedale Hospital has been demanded by Otley's MP.

This newspaper publicised details of plans for the running of the minor injuries to be transferred from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) to a private firm, after seeing a leaked staff briefing note.

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland, who passed the document on to the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer, has now written to Leeds Primary Care Trust (PCT) to express "deep concerns" over the changes.

He is also asking Leeds City Council's health scrutiny board to investigate the proposals, which were slammed by Wharfedale Hospital Forum member Councillor Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) as "totally unacceptable".

Mr Mulholland's letter to the PCT says: "I was very surprised to hear about these plans and I am very concerned about the impact this could have on services at Wharfedale Hospital, and also what this means in terms of the future of the hospital as a core NHS facility.

"The minor injuries service is important and well run, and is one which is one of the few services at the hospital local people are all aware they can access. The service works very well, with excellent staff, and patients are satisfied.

"In which case, the first question is why on earth propose major changes to a service that is working very well?

"I am also very concerned that in reality this represents a significant downgrading of the minor injuries unit.

"All three companies who are interested in bidding for the unit tender have very minimal Accident and Emergency provision in the service they provide, which will surely diminish services available at the Wharfedale."

Mr Mulholland also questions whether the fact the unit will work "separately and independently" from the LTHT after the tender process is complete will mean advice by phone obtained by staff at the Wharfedale from the LGI and elsewhere - and comments on X-rays transmitted to Leeds - could be lost.

He adds: "Finally, if any patient has to start from scratch' when they are referred to an A and E, surely that will mean that if they have any doubt at all about the severity of their injury they would bypass the Wharfedale entirely?

"In other words, people will simply lose faith in the unit and will go to Harrogate or Leeds A & E instead, and the so-called minor injuries unit will then be dealing with matters that are clearly just out of hours GP matters.

"I also must ask you to explain how this can fit into your commitment to Wharfedale Hospital as an important and valued part of the hospital provision in Leeds.

"Privatising an important, well used and well understood service flies in the face of claims you want more core NHS services delivered from Wharfedale.

"It has also, as you will have known it would, sent shockwaves around Otley where people have long feared that in the longer term the hospital would be sold to the private sector.

"I am asking you to suspend the plans to put the minor injuries unit out to tender and instead to engage in discussions as to how this important service can continue to be delivered by the LTHT as a core NHS offering.

"I am deeply concerned about these plans, and I think the local community deserve answers to these questions before the tender process goes any further."

The PCT insists the change will benefit patients as it is part of an overhaul to get all urgent care services - including out of hours GPs - controlled by one organisation.

Leeds NHS Primary Care Trust Chief Executive Christine Outram, in a letter to the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer, said: "I would like to reassure people that Leeds Primary Care Trust (PCT) has no intention of downgrading the minor injuries unit at Wharfedale Hospital.

"Indeed it is quite the reverse, as we are planning to make significant improvements for people who need healthcare urgently by extending the range of services, increasing the opening hours and extending the current GP out of hours services based at the unit.

"In June, July and August 2007, we asked local patients and the public for their views about urgent care services.

"People said they were happy with the care they received, but that they did not always know what services were available and how to get in touch with them.

"Patients also told us they were making more than one telephone call to access services and were being redirected to different places.

"We asked people what improvements we could make to urgent care services and their comments included having just one telephone number to call and to be able to access all types of care in one local place.

"As a result of what people told us, we want to improve the care provided to patients by bringing all urgent care services together, provided by one organisation and with one central phone number for patients to ring.

"The service will work with Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust (LTHT) to ensure that the minor injuries unit continues to be based there and that there is a permanent base for a GP out of hours service.

"Local NHS organisations, GPs, GP consortia, social enterprises and independent sector organisations are all able to bid to deliver NHS funded services for local people.

"We are currently in discussion with three independent sector organisations about taking our proposals forward and plan to make a final decision about who will be awarded the contract later this year.

"The NHS has always funded services provided by independent contractors, such as GPs, and will continue to do so.

"These services are free for all NHS patients. I would like to reassure your readers that any independent sector organisation that is awarded the contract will be have to meet rigorous NHS performance standards.

"It will also need to demonstrate that the public and patient's views are regularly taken into account to ensure that the service is committed to continuous improvement."

• Print
• Email
• Share