November 2007

The recent report on how the NHS treats its most acute trauma cases makes interesting reading.  Acute cases include things like stroke, heart attack and serious accident – those patients who are likely to arrive at hospital by “blue light” ambulance.  There’s already a trend for fewer acute sites treating the most serious emergency cases and that trend is likely to increase.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust prides itself in being ahead of the game in many aspects of healthcare and acute care is no exception.  The Trust could choose to do nothing, preferring to wait and see.  The risk would be that acute services would shift, probably to Newcastle and the consultants would go with them.  Or they could try to invest in existing services, though future patient numbers may well make them unsustainable.  Furthermore existing A+E services sometimes rely on non consultants or trainee doctors at certain times.  A good service – but not as good as it might be.

Instead the Trust is actively considering a new multi million pound acute hospital, built locally and near good communication links.  Consultants would deliver the service – the very best specialists in a ground breaking specialist unit.  Instead of seeing consultants drift away, maybe more will want to come to work in the new acute centre in North Tyneside.
If the plan goes ahead around a third of current attendees at A+E would go direct to the new centre. For patients ‘walking in’ for urgent care the A+E at Rake Lane would remain.
People are understandably nervous when the change word is used in healthcare.  No doubt our opponents will cry ‘cuts’ even though this is an investment.

I’m convinced that it is right at least to consider the options.  Getting ahead of national policy will be good for patients so I am listening to the case the Trust is making.  But I’ve told them any new acute hospital would have to be local and accessible and existing A+E must remain at Rake Lane.

It’s early days and no decision has been made – nor would it be without public consultation.  It’s too important a debate for party politics - after all it may be a matter of life and death.