‘We are heading for a serious conflict,’ UNISON head of health Karen Jennings told News Line yesterday.
She was referring to statements by the new NHS boss and a Liberal Democrats survey which revealed government plans to axe Accident and Emergency departments in at least ten hospitals around the country.
Jennings added: ‘The government is trying to forge ahead with huge changes in local services with no consultations and without any assessment of what the impact will be on patients and staff.
‘Closing A&Es will mean people will have to travel further to be treated.
‘There may well be a way to treat patients in the community but services have to be in place before you start dismantling A&Es and other vital hospital services.’
The chairman of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) Consultants’ Committee, Dr Paul Miller said: ‘The BMA is worried that system change in the NHS is adversely affecting patient care and is causing the break-up of the health service.
‘On one hand we hear that A&E and maternity units will be closing and on the other we learn that lucrative contracts are being given to private companies.
‘The fact that the private sector often does not provide value for money does not seem to concern the government.
‘Reconfiguration to improve services can be a positive move but closing hospitals just to save money will have disastrous effects for patients.
‘The patients who will suffer most will be the elderly, the mentally ill and those with long-term chronic conditions.
‘The private sector will not want to touch these costly and complex groups and the BMA fears they will be forgotten in the new world of NHS plc.’
Sixteen hospital trusts in England providing acute services are under strong pressure, which could lead to loss of services or even closure of some of their 27 hospitals according to Liberal Democrat research published yesterday.
Among the trusts listed in the Lib Dems’ report are the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which has warned that its debts will reach £100 million by 2010 unless 500 jobs are cut alongside services in both Hemel Hempstead and St Albans hospitals.
Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Trust, Middlesex, has a £7.5 million deficit and has contracted a ‘turnaround director’ to draw up plans to save £16 million in the next two years.
The Trust has already closed the A&E at Ashford Hospital and replaced it with a minor injuries walk-in centre.
East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust is cutting £18 million, axing 500 jobs and reviewing the number of beds at its hospitals.
It has already shut the children’s ward at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City and now plans to axe A&E and maternity services.
Meanwhile, new NHS chief executive David Nicholson has said that planned ‘reconfigurations’ may well see up to 60 closures of A&E, paediatric and maternity departments especially in the smaller district hospitals.
Nicholson said Wednesday that closures could take place before the next general election, adding that cuts will have to be made in the face of last year’s £512 million NHS deficit.
He said: ‘Undoubtedly there will be tough decisions to make over the next 12 months to reflect changing services.
‘Some will come sooner than the general election.’
Royal College of Nursing head of policy Howard Catton told News Line yesterday: ‘What concerns us is that the announcement appears to be driven by short term financial and political pressures.
‘Our concern is if these reforms are rushed through it could mean hospital services are removed before alternative facilities are available.
‘We would want to see extensive consultation with patients and staff to ensure that any changes don’t, for example, leave expectant mothers without easy access to midwives and the midwifery team.
‘We are holding a joint demonstration with UNISON in Nottingham on 23rd September, handing in a petition to Downing Street on 9th October, and taking part in a joint lobby of parliament with all the health unions on October 25th.’