Angie enters the debate over the future of Ealing Hospital's A&E

Angie spent a very informative morning at Ealing Hospital, being briefed by senior staff about the hospital and its future. In an in-depth briefing, Angie was told about the plans the hospital has for expanding the maternity services and their concerns about the rumours that the Accident & Emergency department may close due to the funding crisis in London.

Afterwards she said "It was important that I went to the hospital to meet the staff and hear first hand what is happening. Having learnt that the A&E department is dealing with up to 100,000 patients a year, I cannot see how it can be remotely possible to close the facility. Where on earth are these patients suppose to go? Obviously in time new patterns of patient care may be developed. But it would be extraordinary to close the A&E department before new services have been able to develop and time has been allowed for patients to get used to new ways of accessing healthcare.

The Conservative Party rejects the putative budget deficit that NHS London appears to be bandying around as a justification for six A&Es to be closed across North West London, including Ealing Hospital. Reports suggest that NHS London could be facing up to £5 billion* deficit but the Conservative Health Team does not accept this sum or how the figures stack up to reach it. A Conservative Government will carry out a review of NHS London and all the services it provides, but any decisions will be made on clinical needs rather than driven by bureaucrats."

Photo caption: Angie talking to an Ealing Hospital visitor

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