Chelsea and Westminster to be One of Five Major Acute Hospitals
"Reconfiguration" to happen over next five years if plans go ahead
While Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals are facing closures and downgrading, NHS commissioners have agreed that Chelsea and Westminster Hospital will be one of five major acute hospitals as part of the reconfiguration of healthcare services across North West London.
The Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts —which consists of North West London PCTs, Camden PCT, Richmond PCT and Wandsworth PCT— voted on Tuesday 19 February to go ahead with Option A following a meeting held in public on NHS North West London's Shaping a Healthier Future recommendations.
Proceeding with Option A means Chelsea and Westminster Hospital will continue as both a major and local hospital with a full 24/7 A&E department with emergency surgery.
It also enables the hospital to provide a comprehensive service to patients including the delivery of complex medicine and surgery, intensive care beds, maternity unit, inpatient paediatric services, urgent care centre, outpatients and diagnostic services.
As well as Chelsea and Westminster, the other four major hospitals in North West London will be Northwick Park Hospital, Hillingdon Hospital, West Middlesex Hospital, and St Mary's Hospital.
The JCPCT agreed with all 13 recommendations on the future of health services including investing more than £190m on out-of-hospital care.
Chelsea and Westminster says the reconfiguration plans will be developed over the next five years.
However, with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt agreeing this week that if asked by Ealing Council, he will refer the NHS plans to an independent panel, it is still not certain that the plans will go ahead.
Chslea and Westminster Hospital has also thanked everyone who took part in its Safe in our Hands campaign.
The results of the public consultation were announced on November 28 2012 and showed that 63% of people who responded to the consultation supported Option A.
That figure rose to 83%, following the hospital's campaign.
However, this campaign was highly controversial as it was accused of pitting trust against trust. Option A meant a secure future for Chelsea and Westminster at the expense of Hammersmith and Fulham's hospitals.
People participating in the consultation were not given the option of asking for all hospital services to be maintained.
March 1, 2013
February 26, 2013
