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Local people still deserve answers on future of Sutton's Health service - Brake, Burstow & Brennan
June 12, 2007 12:00 AM
Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam and Sean Brennan, Leader of Sutton Council, have renewed their call for answers on the future of the borough's healthcare in a second letter to the Better Healthcare team.
Messrs Brake, Burstow and Brennan have written to PCT boss Caroline Taylor after receiving a response to their initial letter, sent after a review panel concluded that the initial Better Healthcare Closer to Home project was unsustainable and set out plans for a new general hospital supported by 4 local care centres.
The group, who received a response from Ms Taylor at the end of May, have today written again asking for clarification on a number of key points. Among the issues raised in the letter:
• Accident & Emergency Services: Ms Taylor's response to their first letter states that the new general hospital is unlikely to undertake major trauma work. The group's letter asks how this will change the capacity of the borough's hospitals to provide local A&E services
• Financial sustainability: The group called again for clarification on the basis for assumptions made about the number of patients coming to a general hospital in Sutton from Surrey and other parts of London. Assumptions about these numbers underpin aspects of the financial planning for the project.
• Future of Sutton Hospital: The group asked for Sutton Hospital to be considered as a potential location for a Local Care Centre to provide for the health needs of residents in the south of the borough if it is not selected as the site for a new general hospital.
Commenting about the decision to write a further letter, Tom Brake MP said:
"There are still a host of important questions to be answered about the future shape of our local health service."
"If our A&E service is going to be reduced, or if incorrect assumptions are being made about the sustainability of these proposals, local people deserve to know now."
Paul Burstow MP spoke of the need to plan for the future of Sutton Hospital:
"It is vitally important that discussions about the location of any new general hospital do not overshadow other important considerations."
"If Sutton is not to be the site of a new General Hospital, it must be considered as the location for a Local Care centre, serving residents in the south of the borough."
Council Leader Sean Brennan continued:
"It is our role as the representatives of Sutton's residents to continue to seek answers and assurances from NHS decision makers."
"I hope that this dialogue can continue as plans for the shape of our health service move forward."
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