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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lewisham Hospital: Hunt announces A&E downgrade | Lewisham Hospital: Hunt announces A&E downgrade |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The A&E department at Lewisham hospital in south-east London is to be downgraded and made smaller as part of cost-cutting measures. | |
| In the Commons, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the ward would have "24/7 senior emergency medical cover". | |
| The decision comes after neighbouring South London Healthcare NHS Trust (SLHT) ran up debts of £150m. | The decision comes after neighbouring South London Healthcare NHS Trust (SLHT) ran up debts of £150m. |
| At least 15,000 people took part in a protest march against the plans on Saturday. | At least 15,000 people took part in a protest march against the plans on Saturday. |
| 'Sham and shambles' | 'Sham and shambles' |
| Mr Hunt accepted six of the seven proposals put forward by special administrator, Matthew Kershaw. | |
| These include replacing the maternity unit at Lewisham with a midwife-led facility. | |
| He said £36m will be allocated to expanding capacity at the hospitals which will take on high-risk births from Lewisham. | |
| Mr Hunt confirmed that the SLHT will be dissolved by October 2013 and its hospitals re-configured. | Mr Hunt confirmed that the SLHT will be dissolved by October 2013 and its hospitals re-configured. |
| Up to three quarters of those currently attending Lewisham A&E could attend the new service at the hospital, he said. | Up to three quarters of those currently attending Lewisham A&E could attend the new service at the hospital, he said. |
| Patients with more serious conditions could be taken to other hospitals. | Patients with more serious conditions could be taken to other hospitals. |
| He said overall the proposals could save up to 100 lives per year through higher clinical standards. | He said overall the proposals could save up to 100 lives per year through higher clinical standards. |
| He said it was on the advice of NHS Medical Director Professor Bruce Keogh that the decision was taken to retain Lewisham Hospital's A&E in the best interests of patients. | |
| Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary, said the move would "set dangerous precedents". | Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary, said the move would "set dangerous precedents". |
| Joan Ruddock, Labour MP for Lewisham Deptford, said: "Today's proposals are a sham and a shambles and unacceptable to those who represent people in Lewisham." | |
| Mr Burnham responded: "A sham and a shambles is what I inherited, not what I'm bequeathing." | |
| The changes are part of a radical overhaul proposed by a special administrator in response to nearby SLHT going into administration after it started losing around £1.3m a week. | |
| Mr Hunt told MPs: "I respect and recognise the sense of unfairness people feel because their hospital has been caught up in the financial problems of its neighbour. | |
| "However solving the financial crisis next door is also in the interest of the people of Lewisham because they too depend on the services which are currently part of South London Healthcare Trust." |