Members of a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Cumbria County Council and Lancashire County Council have welcomed assurances from health chiefs that valuable lessons have been learned from the decision to close and then reopen Ward 11 at Westmorland General Hospital.
In a meeting held yesterday between the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust , councillors were assured that in the future adequate alternative arrangements will be put in place before any closures are made and the scrutiny committee will be consulted at all key stages of any major change programme. Cumbria PCT chief executive Sue Page was also present at the meeting along with GP representative Dr Hugh Reeve.
The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust closed the 24-bed ward on October 3 as part of its acute medical services review. Last week it agreed in a meeting with Cumbria PCT that Ward 11 would remain open and confirmed that the hospital will continue to accept acute medical admissions. At yesterday's meeting Tony Halsall, Chief Executive, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust assured scrutiny members from both Lancashire and Cumbria that, "It will be business as usual".
The Hospital Trust agreed to do more work with Cumbria PCT and the GPs in order to develop a joint implementation plan. This will meet the requirements set by the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and be reported to them. It will ensure that necessary alternative services are in place before each phase of service changes happen at WGH and that GPs, Ambulance Trust and other clinical staff are satisfied with the arrangements.
Councillor Jeff Garnett, chair of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said:
"There was a general acceptance from health providers that mistakes have been made, but there was also a real commitment not to make them again. Ultimately Westmorland General Hospital will lose its acute medical admissions, such as suspected heart attack and stroke cases, but it is only right that nothing should go before alternative arrangements have been fully tested and put in place.
"Members of the scrutiny committee welcome the fact that University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust has been brave enough to admit that it was premature in closing the ward. It should not be criticised for 'u-turns' or 'back-pedalling', instead it should be congratulated for finally acting on local concerns."
ENDS
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