Forum Topic

NHS consultation on stroke and major trauma - have your say

London's NHS is currently consulting on plans to improve hospital care for strokes and major trauma. Plans include the creation of new specalist centres for both conditions at hospitals across the capital.We would like your views on the proposed location of these new services. Details are at www.hf-pct.nhs.uk/consult09 including a link to the online questionnaireThe consultation closes on 8th May 2009.Tom Stevenson, Head of Communications, NHS Hammersmith and Fulham

Tom Stevenson ● 5905d3 Comments

Tom - thanks for the feedback and correction about specialist stroke units - I found the case for these very persuasive and hope when they roll out they are a success. Keep a place for me, as no doubt in a year or two ...

Dan Filson ● 5860d

We've had our total responses back today. Not broken down for Fulham specifically but 222 formal responses from the whole borough. Which puts Hammersmith and Fulham seventh from top across 32 PCTs in terms of official responses from individuals. We also held a roadshow which over 350 people attended, held three smaller public meetings, and visited a number of voluntary and community groups and sheltered housing units.Formal results of the consulation will be published in June/July.On a minor point of clarification on your comments I would just highlight that the proposals are for "more and better" not "fewer but better" services. There are currently no specialist stroke units of the type being proposed and only one major trauma unit. The plans would create 8 new specialist stroke units and add two or three more major trauma units.

Tom Stevenson ● 5861d

Did people respond from Fulham?The case for fewer but better centres for stroke and major trauma treatment is controversial but was, I thought, well made. It would be a pity if the proposal either fell or succeded on the back of a patchy consultation response. The trouble with this kind of consultation is that respondents tend always to defend their nearest hospital without looking at the widr picture.

Dan Filson ● 5866d