Forum Topic

Healthcare in Ealing Scheduled to Get Much Worse

NHS plans released recently will at best significantly reduce Accident and Emergency (A and E) services at Ealing's two hospitals, Ealing and Central Middlesex by 37%. I had to attend Ealing Hospital A and E early evening on Tuesday of last week. I had to wait over 90 minutes and for much of that time had to stand up as there were too fews chairs. However the clinical service, when provided, was of high quality. To be a viable local A and E service more room is needed; more chairs; and more nurses and more doctors.At worst both A and E units will be closed down. There are no plans to build any new hospitals or A and E units in Ealing.Ealing Council's plans are to grow Ealing's population from 310,000 to 350,000 over the next 15 years. The building of new homes alone will introduce some 28,000 new residents into Ealing. In Southall  some 8,000 new residents will occupy 3,750 new homes on the Gas Works site.The NHS logic to support this down grade in local healthcare services includes the argument that more specialists will be available in larger teams. However these teams will be remotely located outside the borough and the patient pool they will have to service will increase significantly in size. Ealing Patients will have to travel much longer distances to access emergency care and those worst affected will be the less able bodied and less prosperous members of Ealing society.Another bit of bizarre logic is that another part of London - North West London healthcare - has run up very large financial debts and healthcare service cuts will have to made in Ealing to save money and help the financial bale out in north west London.

Eric Alan Leach ● 5265d3 Comments

Yes Eric,The writing is on the wall in that it isn't only in Ealing that healthcare is scheduled to get much worse...it is everywhere. The note I posted about hernia problems being passed to the private sector in the Bristol area until they become urgent can't be the only example of the damage the government is doing to our NHS.

Arthur Breens ● 5262d

This problem of seating is a problem that doesn't get taken into account as it is not a clinical one.Hospitals tend to be large with long corridors and as the people visiting become older and older they are likely to be less able.  That means that they will need to be dropped at the entrance and will need seating there.  They will also need wheelchairs to take them the long distances to the wards and clinics.Something should also be done about Consultants calling patients in for appointments.  You can spend all day travelling and waiting for a 3 minute appointment only to be told that they want you to come in again or don't think you need to come in again - what a waste of time and energy.  Later you argue over who it was you saw because although it was a particular Consultant's clinic you haven't a clue who it was you actually saw.

Philippa Bond ● 5262d

What I could not see in the Gazette was where A&E is to go.

Graham Weeks ● 5264d