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Decision on NHS North West London A&E closures due NHS North West London A&E units downgraded
(about 11 hours later)
A decision on plans to close four Accident and Emergency (A&E) units in north-west London will be made later. Accident and Emergency (A&E) units at four London hospitals are to be downgraded.
Under the plans the units in Charing Cross, Central Middlesex, Hammersmith and Ealing Hospitals could be downgraded to urgent care centres. The moves affect Charing Cross, Central Middlesex, Hammersmith and Ealing Hospitals.
Patients would instead use A&E services at Hillingdon, Northwick Park, West Middlesex, the Chelsea and Westminster or St Mary's in Paddington. More serious emergencies will instead be referred to A&Es at Hillingdon, Northwick Park, West Middlesex, Chelsea and Westminster or St Mary's Hospitals.
NHS North West London say the changes will save money and improve care. The decision was confirmed at a joint committee of Primary Care Trusts in Westminster.
A joint committee of Primary Care Trusts will make the final decision. 'Second-class'
Campaign groups opposed to the changes say A&E facilities should not be taken away from local communities. NHS North West London said the changes would save money and improve care.
'Nightmare' for people Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith, said the decision left a "second-class health service for millions of Londoners" and that the A&Es left would be "over-crowded and over-run".
Those hospitals losing the A&E units will become "local hospitals" providing 24/7 urgent care centres, outpatient and diagnostic services while the five other hospitals will provide A&E services and become "major hospitals" providing specialist care. Julian Bell, leader of Labour-run Ealing Council said: "We are going to fight this decision all the way."
He said statutory powers would be used to refer the decision to the secretary of state for health.
"We will also keep our options open with a judicial review," he added.
Those hospitals losing the A&E units will become "local hospitals" providing urgent care centres, outpatient and diagnostic services, while the five other hospitals will provide A&E services and become "major hospitals" providing specialist care.
'Best care'
Dr Mark Spencer, medical director of North West London NHS, said: "What we are recommending across north-west London is that we develop five bigger, better hospitals than we have at the moment.Dr Mark Spencer, medical director of North West London NHS, said: "What we are recommending across north-west London is that we develop five bigger, better hospitals than we have at the moment.
"We can have consistently large teams of consultants making sure people get the very best care and in return for that we need to make some of our hospitals smaller designed around the services they need for their local community.""We can have consistently large teams of consultants making sure people get the very best care and in return for that we need to make some of our hospitals smaller designed around the services they need for their local community."
Bridget Ogden, campaigner at Ealing, said: "I am not saying the NHS shouldn't change. Bridget Ogden, campaigner at Ealing, said: "... When something can be done safely in the community, let's do it in the community, but you have got to have those facilities in place first.
"I am a great believer that you should deliver services as close to people as possible and when something can be done safely in the community, lets do it in the community, but you have got to have those facilities in place first. "I have a real fear that [the health officials'] vision is going to turn out to be a nightmare for the health of the people of Ealing".
"Many of their ideas are based on their vision, I have a real fear that their vision is going to turn out to be a nightmare for the health of the people of Ealing".