South London Healthcare NHS Trust to be dissolved by 1 October 2013 January 31, 2013 The most financially challenged NHS Trust in England is to be dissolved by October 2013 to address the risk it carries for ongoing patient care and the pressure it is placing on other parts of the NHS, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt today announced.
Previous attempts to solve the financial problems at South London Healthcare NHS Trust have failed. Currently, the Trust is losing more than £1 million every week and by the end of this year, is expected to have an accumulated debt of more than £200 million – money that is being taken away from patients elsewhere.
It was on the advice of NHS Medical Director Professor Bruce Keogh that Mr Hunt also announced that he has decided that it is in the best interests of patients that Lewisham Hospital should retain its A&E
The Trust Special Administrator was appointed in July last year to recommend a lasting clinical and financial solution for South London Healthcare NHS Trust. After careful consideration the Secretary of State has accepted the broad recommendations of the report, which are:
The Trust will be dissolved, with each of its hospitals taken over by a neighbouring hospital trust. These mergers are subject to approval from the relevant regulators. All three hospitals within South London Healthcare NHS Trust – Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, Queen Mary’s in Sidcup and the Princess Royal in Bromley – will be required to make the full £74.9 million of efficiencies identified by the Trust Special Administrator. All vacant or poorly utilised premises will be vacated, and sold where possible. The Department will pay for the excess costs of the PFI buildings at the Queen Elizabeth and Princess Royal Hospitals and write off the accumulated debt of the Trust so that the new organisations are not saddled with historic debts. It will also negotiate an appropriate level of transitional funding to cover implementation. With regard to the proposed service changes within the new merged Lewisham-Greenwich provider, the Secretary of State asked Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, Medical Director of the NHS, to consider if they would improve patient care.
On the basis of Sir Bruce’s advice, the Secretary of State has accepted the recommendation to centralise very specialist emergency care at four sites in South East London because this will significantly improve the quality of care and save the lives of up to 100 patients a year.
The Secretary of State understood the financial rationale for downgrading Lewisham A&E, but in the interests of local patients has imposed some additional clinical safeguards proposed by Sir Bruce. Lewisham Hospital will retain its ability to admit patients with less serious conditions, and will continue to have 24/7 senior medical emergency cover, allowing it to remain open as a working A&E department treating up to 75% of the patients who currently use it.
Patients with much more serious conditions or higher risk pregnancies will be taken to Kings, Queen Elizabeth, Bromley or St Thomas’ because they are more likely to have a better result. To get to this higher standard of care, patients across South East London will only spend on average 2 more minutes in an ambulance to access specialist emergency services and on average 2-3 minutes in a private car or public transport to access consultant led maternity services.
With these additional safeguards in place, the Secretary of State has agreed that the Trust Special Administrator should proceed to implementation, with South London Healthcare NHS Trust expected to be dissolved between June and October 2013.
Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt said:
“The longstanding problems at South London Healthcare NHS Trust must not be allowed to compromise patient care in the future. Hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent on paying for debt rather than improving patient care for the local community in South East London.
“What is in the clinical interests of patients in South East London has been at the heart of my decision making process, and as a result I have followed clinical advice to keep open the A&E in Lewisham.
“However, some changes need to be made so that money is spent on patient care rather than servicing historic debt. The decisions I have taken today will ensure that and that patients in South East London will be able to rely on the NHS for years to come.”
Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director said:
“Healthcare in South East London is at a turning point. We need to strike the right balance between ensuring that all patients have access to the best possible specialist treatment whilst providing safe, effective and convenient services close to home.
“I expect that balance to result in about three quarters of patients currently seen in Lewisham A&E continuing to receive complete care at Lewisham Hospital and about a quarter being transferred for more specialist treatment elsewhere.”
Jeremy Hunt added:
“I would like to thank Matthew Kershaw. He has done a truly outstanding job in incredibly difficult circumstances. He and his team have developed a set of proposals that will improve and maintain services in South East London.”
Notes to editors
An extra £36 million of additional investment has been earmarked to ensure there is sufficient maternity capacity at the other sites. Allowing Lewisham to retain its A&E will help to reduce the level of increased demand at hospitals with larger A&E services, while an additional £37 million of investment will further expand services at the specialist hospitals for more serious conditions.
For further information, please call the Department of Health’s Press Office on 0207 210 5962 / 5477.
Matthew Kershaw praised by his mate Jeremy Hunt spent (count it) FIVE million quid to come to his 'proposals', which ironically have not been accepted in full.
Right now I feel bitterly pissed off, bitterly. For all the faults of past Labour administrations, and there have been many, they don't compare with the raw self-serving nature of Conservative administrations in my lifetime. I always vote Green at the Euro elections because I figure it doesn't really matter, and I want to give them a bit of encouragement. From now on I will vote in an anti-Tory way in every election rather than voting in favour of anybody else.
Feel very sad for the people in this area including my family....despise what this government is doing and how they spin it to look like they've saved the A&E. Horrible bunch of self servers.
Sue Luxton @sueluxton Right, switching off TV and laptop and off to work. Note to self: try to avoid getting sick or pregnant . . . Retweeted by News Shopper
*unt living up to his name. I'm so angry now, the biggest problem with this country is that it's run by 3 old establishment parties. Yes I include labour in this. Why not downgrade the f@@kers who are in debt.
At the risk of upsetting people, I have to say that the outcome doesn't seem too bad. It could certainly have been much worse. Lewisham retain three quarters of their A&E & South London Trust's debt is wiped out. The main bit I don't understand is the extra 2-3 minute journey required to other hospitals ? I would have thought that's about realistic as Charlton fans jumping on the 75 bus to Selhurst.
*unt living up to his name. I'm so angry now, the biggest problem with this country is that it's run by 3 old establishment parties. Yes I include labour in this. Why not downgrade the f@@kers who are in debt.
Right now I feel bitterly pissed off, bitterly. For all the faults of past Labour administrations, and there have been many, they don't compare with the raw self-serving nature of Conservative administrations in my lifetime. I always vote Green at the Euro elections because I figure it doesn't really matter, and I want to give them a bit of encouragement. From now on I will vote in an anti-Tory way in every election rather than voting in favour of anybody else.
that's how i've been voting for a number of years now. anything i can do to stop those tory tossers getting into power.
How on earth do you downgrade an A&E? Is it my understanding that the most serious cases won't be treated? What are they going to turn them away?
Lewisham won't be able to admit patients, so if its a serious case, the patient will go to QE or Kings maybe even St. Thomas' - Lewisham A&E effectively becomes a 24 hr GPs, so can treat minor injuries &/or walking wounded.
Senior Doc from Lewisham on the radio at the moment and saying Lewisham wanted to join with South London Trust and help them with their financial problems....fell on deaf ears.
Patients with much more serious conditions or higher risk pregnancies will be taken to Kings, Queen Elizabeth, Bromley or St Thomas’ because they are more likely to have a better result. To get to this higher standard of care, patients across South East London will only spend on average 2 more minutes in an ambulance to access specialist emergency services and on average 2-3 minutes in a private car or public transport to access consultant led maternity services.
How on earth do you downgrade an A&E? Is it my understanding that the most serious cases won't be treated? What are they going to turn them away?
Lewisham won't be able to admit patients, so if its a serious case, the patient will go to QE or Kings maybe even St. Thomas' - Lewisham A&E effectively becomes a 24 hr GPs, so can treat minor injuries &/or walking wounded.
How will I know if my accident or emergency is mild enough for Lewisham to treat me ?
Andy Burnham my arse where were you when your party fully went for all the PFIs going ?
HMGov (us Tax payers) has "picked up" £200Million yes MILLION of the debt to the PCT caused by their PFI the PCT still has to pay £78 million and of course there is the on going costs.
75% of the A+E is "saved" well done the people who put up a fight.
This debt will continue to build up so in another 5 years what happens then ? Unless central Gov buys out these PYIs That will cost billions.
How on earth do you downgrade an A&E? Is it my understanding that the most serious cases won't be treated? What are they going to turn them away?
Lewisham won't be able to admit patients, so if its a serious case, the patient will go to QE or Kings maybe even St. Thomas' - Lewisham A&E effectively becomes a 24 hr GPs, so can treat minor injuries &/or walking wounded.
How will I know if my accident or emergency is mild enough for Lewisham to treat me ?
You won't, Lewisham should arrange a transfer to another hospital
If i was the Tory in charge of NHS i would do nothing----let the NHS debt build to multi billions not just a billion and when Labour win the next election stick a post it note on my PC saying " ha ha there is no money"-----------------------o shit thats already been done though hasnt it.
Looking real hard at Private health insurance which i have never had and is the Tory back ground idiology
Andy Burnham my arse where were you when your party fully went for all the PFIs going ?
MGov (us Tax payers) has "picked up" £200Million yes MILLION of the debt to the PCT caused by their PFI the PCT still has to pay £78 million and of course there is the on going costs.
75% of the A+E is "saved" well done the people who put up a fight.
This debt will continue to build up so in another 5 years what happens then ? Unless central Gov buys out these PYIs That will cost billions.
If i was the Tory in charge of NHS i would do nothing----let the NHS debt build to multi billions not just a billion and when Labour win the next election stick a post it note on my PC saying " ha ha there is no money"-----------------------o shit thats already been done though hasnt it.
Looking real hard at Private health insurance which i have never had and is the Tory back ground idiology
Other issue with Private Medical Insurance is that any deemed pre-existing medical conditions will not be covered
If i was the Tory in charge of NHS i would do nothing----let the NHS debt build to multi billions not just a billion and when Labour win the next election stick a post it note on my PC saying " ha ha there is no money"-----------------------o shit thats already been done though hasnt it.
Looking real hard at Private health insurance which i have never had and is the Tory back ground idiology
Other issue with Private Medical Insurance is that any deemed pre-existing medical conditions will not be covered
Matty Mitford @SomersTownGreen Yes #Lewishambles, very funny but don't forget who brought in the PFI that's caused all this mess. Labour. #SaveLewishamAE
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_finance_initiative In 1992 PFI was implemented for the first time in the UK by the Conservative government of John Major. It immediately proved controversial.
Those on the campaign front need to up their game, Nick Ferrari (host of LBCs breakfast show and Blackheath resident) said this morning he had not heard a thing about it.
He should have been one of the first people to go to to drum up a bit of pressure and publicity.
Sunday February 3,2013 By Nick Ferrari Have your say(1) ABOUT six months ago, the NHS was an undisputed jewel in the nation’s crown that featured prominently in Danny Boyle’s Olympic Games opening show. As the Prime Minister watched from the stadium and The Queen was buckling up her parachute, platoons of nurses danced round delighted-looking patients with beaming faces and happy hearts. The message was clear: the National Health Service is something the nation cherishes and values and wants to parade in front of the world. Fast forward to last week and it is plain the Coalition now views parts of the NHS with the affection an athlete has for an old pair of trainers. There is no other way to characterise its callous and calamitous decision to savagely cut an A&E unit in a densely populated, and in part deprived, area of London. In future the department can only really cater for the walking wounded but if it cannot take care of you it is happy to get you an ambulance. Now, before any of you outside the city immediately look away and write this off as a “London-only” story, you need to be aware this massively unpopular decision is a test case that will have ramifications across the country. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has presided over the effective theft of the successful and under-budget A&E department at Lewisham Hospital in South East London, so it can be transferred to a failing neighbouring NHS trust and then decimated to save cash. This was a well-run and acclaimed hospital but because of the strangling yoke of the criminal Private Finance Initiatives which have crippled much of the health budget, it had to be sacrificed. Last week London but what next? A hospital in Birmingham finds itself mysteriously moved into a health trust in Bristol? The Coalition has done it to us, don’t think it won’t do it to you. I say “us” because Lewisham is my local hospital and eight years ago it saved the life of one of my two sons. I had rushed there to visit both of them after bumps and bangs on school sports fields resulted in a broken bone apiece but the night my elder son was taken by ambulance was an experience I never want to repeat. He was 18 and had been sick for around a week but the symptoms were not consistent with any particular illness and we were all troubled by his escalating loss of health. Fortunately, someone who was also concerned was his GP, Dr Steve Pierpoint, who called round after work to check on him. One look was enough to convince him something serious was going on. He was to be proved right. Thanks to the dedication of Dr John O’Donoghue and the team at Lewisham A&E, he was diagnosed with lepto-spirosis, commonly known as Weil’s disease. My son was on the path to recovery but former Olympic oarsman Andy Holmes, who rowed with Sir Steve Redgrave, was not as fortunate a few years ago when he contracted the disease. The superfit athlete was dead in weeks. Speed is of the essence with this condition. If this is safe, I never want to experience being in peril So you won’t be in the least surprised to hear that when 25,000 people took to the streets to protest about the closure of Lewisham’s A&E and maternity units the Saturday before last, I was happy to be with them. Indeed, I am privileged to say I was asked by the demo organisers to say a few words. Now the guts have been kicked out of the hospital, I am left wishing I had done more. Perhaps I should have tried to get to David Cameron and remind him what he said a few years back. “The NHS is safe in Conservatives’ hands,” he proclaimed. If this is safe, I never want to experience being in peril. The global TV audience for the Olympic opening ceremony was 900million and only last week it was revealed that dozens of countries have been in contact with the Government to find out how the NHS was set up and is now run. Indeed, it has even been floated “health service expertise” could become a landmark British export. Try telling that to the people of Lewisham. Take it from me, there is nothing the NHS can prescribe that will ease the pain and anger.
Most of our politicians are incompetent two-faced f***wits who lack any morality. The PFI fiasco presided over by both major parties just shows what a bunch of fools they are - it would be impossible to devise a more disastrous funding mechanism and yet nobody seems to have taken the blame for it. The NHS is dying a slow death......
Comments
January 31, 2013
The most financially challenged NHS Trust in England is to be dissolved by October 2013 to address the risk it carries for ongoing patient care and the pressure it is placing on other parts of the NHS, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt today announced.
Previous attempts to solve the financial problems at South London Healthcare NHS Trust have failed. Currently, the Trust is losing more than £1 million every week and by the end of this year, is expected to have an accumulated debt of more than £200 million – money that is being taken away from patients elsewhere.
It was on the advice of NHS Medical Director Professor Bruce Keogh that Mr Hunt also announced that he has decided that it is in the best interests of patients that Lewisham Hospital should retain its A&E
The Trust Special Administrator was appointed in July last year to recommend a lasting clinical and financial solution for South London Healthcare NHS Trust. After careful consideration the Secretary of State has accepted the broad recommendations of the report, which are:
The Trust will be dissolved, with each of its hospitals taken over by a neighbouring hospital trust. These mergers are subject to approval from the relevant regulators.
All three hospitals within South London Healthcare NHS Trust – Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, Queen Mary’s in Sidcup and the Princess Royal in Bromley – will be required to make the full £74.9 million of efficiencies identified by the Trust Special Administrator.
All vacant or poorly utilised premises will be vacated, and sold where possible.
The Department will pay for the excess costs of the PFI buildings at the Queen Elizabeth and Princess Royal Hospitals and write off the accumulated debt of the Trust so that the new organisations are not saddled with historic debts. It will also negotiate an appropriate level of transitional funding to cover implementation.
With regard to the proposed service changes within the new merged Lewisham-Greenwich provider, the Secretary of State asked Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, Medical Director of the NHS, to consider if they would improve patient care.
On the basis of Sir Bruce’s advice, the Secretary of State has accepted the recommendation to centralise very specialist emergency care at four sites in South East London because this will significantly improve the quality of care and save the lives of up to 100 patients a year.
The Secretary of State understood the financial rationale for downgrading Lewisham A&E, but in the interests of local patients has imposed some additional clinical safeguards proposed by Sir Bruce. Lewisham Hospital will retain its ability to admit patients with less serious conditions, and will continue to have 24/7 senior medical emergency cover, allowing it to remain open as a working A&E department treating up to 75% of the patients who currently use it.
Patients with much more serious conditions or higher risk pregnancies will be taken to Kings, Queen Elizabeth, Bromley or St Thomas’ because they are more likely to have a better result. To get to this higher standard of care, patients across South East London will only spend on average 2 more minutes in an ambulance to access specialist emergency services and on average 2-3 minutes in a private car or public transport to access consultant led maternity services.
With these additional safeguards in place, the Secretary of State has agreed that the Trust Special Administrator should proceed to implementation, with South London Healthcare NHS Trust expected to be dissolved between June and October 2013.
Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt said:
“The longstanding problems at South London Healthcare NHS Trust must not be allowed to compromise patient care in the future. Hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent on paying for debt rather than improving patient care for the local community in South East London.
“What is in the clinical interests of patients in South East London has been at the heart of my decision making process, and as a result I have followed clinical advice to keep open the A&E in Lewisham.
“However, some changes need to be made so that money is spent on patient care rather than servicing historic debt. The decisions I have taken today will ensure that and that patients in South East London will be able to rely on the NHS for years to come.”
Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director said:
“Healthcare in South East London is at a turning point. We need to strike the right balance between ensuring that all patients have access to the best possible specialist treatment whilst providing safe, effective and convenient services close to home.
“I expect that balance to result in about three quarters of patients currently seen in Lewisham A&E continuing to receive complete care at Lewisham Hospital and about a quarter being transferred for more specialist treatment elsewhere.”
Jeremy Hunt added:
“I would like to thank Matthew Kershaw. He has done a truly outstanding job in incredibly difficult circumstances. He and his team have developed a set of proposals that will improve and maintain services in South East London.”
Notes to editors
An extra £36 million of additional investment has been earmarked to ensure there is sufficient maternity capacity at the other sites. Allowing Lewisham to retain its A&E will help to reduce the level of increased demand at hospitals with larger A&E services, while an additional £37 million of investment will further expand services at the specialist hospitals for more serious conditions.
For further information, please call the Department of Health’s Press Office on 0207 210 5962 / 5477.
So #Lewisham Hospital A&E and maternity not really 'saved' as such but not completely lost either. Clear as mud.
I always vote Green at the Euro elections because I figure it doesn't really matter, and I want to give them a bit of encouragement. From now on I will vote in an anti-Tory way in every election rather than voting in favour of anybody else.
Right, switching off TV and laptop and off to work. Note to self: try to avoid getting sick or pregnant . . .
Retweeted by News Shopper
I'm so angry now, the biggest problem with this country is that it's run by 3 old establishment parties. Yes I include labour in this.
Why not downgrade the f@@kers who are in debt.
This is not the end!
The main bit I don't understand is the extra 2-3 minute journey required to other hospitals ? I would have thought that's about realistic as Charlton fans jumping on the 75 bus to Selhurst.
Patients with much more serious conditions or higher risk pregnancies will be taken to Kings, Queen Elizabeth, Bromley or St Thomas’ because they are more likely to have a better result. To get to this higher standard of care, patients across South East London will only spend on average 2 more minutes in an ambulance to access specialist emergency services and on average 2-3 minutes in a private car or public transport to access consultant led maternity services.
HMGov (us Tax payers) has "picked up" £200Million yes MILLION of the debt to the PCT caused by their PFI the PCT still has to pay £78 million and of course there is the on going costs.
75% of the A+E is "saved" well done the people who put up a fight.
This debt will continue to build up so in another 5 years what happens then ? Unless central Gov buys out these PYIs That will cost billions.
I
@drmarielouise "Talking about Lewisham retaining emergency services is government 'spin', designed to confuse patients. http://gu.com/p/3dfcm/tw
Retweeted by SaveLewishamA&E
Looking real hard at Private health insurance which i have never had and is the Tory back ground idiology
Can't cure being a Daily Mailster then!!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_finance_initiative
In 1992 PFI was implemented for the first time in the UK by the Conservative government of John Major. It immediately proved controversial.
Sunday February 3,2013
By Nick Ferrari
Have your say(1)
ABOUT six months ago, the NHS was an undisputed jewel in the nation’s crown that featured prominently in Danny Boyle’s Olympic Games opening show. As the Prime Minister watched from the stadium and The Queen was buckling up her parachute, platoons of nurses danced round delighted-looking patients with beaming faces and happy hearts.
The message was clear: the National Health Service is something the nation cherishes and values and wants to parade in front of the world.
Fast forward to last week and it is plain the Coalition now views parts of the NHS with the affection an athlete has for an old pair of trainers.
There is no other way to characterise its callous and calamitous decision to savagely cut an A&E unit in a densely populated, and in part deprived, area of London. In future the department can only really cater for the walking wounded but if it cannot take care of you it is happy to get you an ambulance.
Now, before any of you outside the city immediately look away and write this off as a “London-only” story, you need to be aware this massively unpopular decision is a test case that will have ramifications across the country.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has presided over the effective theft of the successful and under-budget A&E department at Lewisham Hospital in South East London, so it can be transferred to a failing neighbouring NHS trust and then decimated to save cash. This was a well-run and acclaimed hospital but because of the strangling yoke of the criminal Private Finance Initiatives which have crippled much of the health budget, it had to be sacrificed.
Last week London but what next? A hospital in Birmingham finds itself mysteriously moved into a health trust in Bristol? The Coalition has done it to us, don’t think it won’t do it to you.
I say “us” because Lewisham is my local hospital and eight years ago it saved the life of one of my two sons. I had rushed there to visit both of them after bumps and bangs on school sports fields resulted in a broken bone apiece but the night my elder son was taken by ambulance was an experience I never want to repeat. He was 18 and had been sick for around a week but the symptoms were not consistent with any particular illness and we were all troubled by his escalating loss of health.
Fortunately, someone who was also concerned was his GP, Dr Steve Pierpoint, who called round after work to check on him. One look was enough to convince him something serious was going on.
He was to be proved right. Thanks to the dedication of Dr John O’Donoghue and the team at Lewisham A&E, he was diagnosed with lepto-spirosis, commonly known as Weil’s disease. My son was on the path to recovery but former Olympic oarsman Andy Holmes, who rowed with Sir Steve Redgrave, was not as fortunate a few years ago when he contracted the disease. The superfit athlete was dead in weeks. Speed is of the essence with this condition.
If this is safe, I never want to experience being in peril
So you won’t be in the least surprised to hear that when 25,000 people took to the streets to protest about the closure of Lewisham’s A&E and maternity units the Saturday before last, I was happy to be with them. Indeed, I am privileged to say I was asked by the demo organisers to say a few words.
Now the guts have been kicked out of the hospital, I am left wishing I had done more. Perhaps I should have tried to get to David Cameron and remind him what he said a few years back. “The NHS is safe in Conservatives’ hands,” he proclaimed. If this is safe, I never want to experience being in peril.
The global TV audience for the Olympic opening ceremony was 900million and only last week it was revealed that dozens of countries have been in contact with the Government to find out how the NHS was set up and is now run. Indeed, it has even been floated “health service expertise” could become a landmark British export.
Try telling that to the people of Lewisham. Take it from me, there is nothing the NHS can prescribe that will ease the pain and anger.
The NHS is dying a slow death......
People beginning to arrive for #Lewisham full council mtg. Budget and hospital main items