Health officials have been accused of trying to hide “potentially catastrophic” cuts to hospital services which senior doctors say could put lives at risk.
NHS authorities have been ordered to draw up plans to tackle growing NHS pressures amid the worst financial crisis in the history of the service.
Yesterday polling of health service leaders revealed that almost half intend bed cuts, while a third propose to close or downgrade A&E departments.
However, they have been banned from publishing proposals, until they have been checked by senior health officials at NHS England.
Now growing numbers of councils have broken ranks, and publishing local plans, while accusing health leaders of a lack of transparency.
Meanwhile, leaked plans have triggered public concern, with local campaigns emerging over proposals which could leave women-in-labour more than an hour from their nearest maternity unit.
Dr Taj Hassan, President of the Royal College of Emergency medicine, accused health officials of failing to engage with medical experts or the public about plans which he described as “seriously alarming and potentially catastrophic”.
The senior doctor said: “A number of systems around the country are already at breaking point and this will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for them. Others that previously were just coping will become unstable and unsafe.”
Leaked plans suggest almost 600 hospital beds could be closed in North Devon, with the loss of maternity and paediatric services, which could be centralised in Plymouth, Taunton or Exeter, more than an hour away.
Yesterday the leader of Hartlepool Council published local plans, which could see Darlington or North Tees lose A&E services.
Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher expressed “serious reservations” about the proposals and accused NHS England of a lack of transparency, in keeping plans under wraps.
Sutton Council, in South London has just published its plans which would see the closure of an A&E unit and consultant-led maternity services. It came after the head of its council told Health Service Journal: “We are concerned that the NHS centrally has not allowed the publication of our STP”.
And Camden Council has published plans for North London, accusing the NHS of “no political oversight, and minimal public and patient engagement” with regard to the proposals.
Polling of leaders of NHS authorities have found almost half are drawing up plans to cut hospital beds, and one third intend to close Accident & Emergency departments.
It emerged as the Tory head of the influential Commons health select committee made an unprecedented plea to the Chancellor, calling for a major cash injection to prevent the collapse of the NHS.
Dr Sarah Wollaston urged the Treasury to step in, to ensure the long-term survival of the health service and tackle a “severe” crisis in social care.
Health officials have ordered every part of the country to draw up sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) in a bid to cope with mounting pressures across the NHS.
The health service recorded its largest ever deficit last year, at £2.45billion, and in recent months, different areas have tightened restrictions on care, despite fears from surgeons that increasing numbers of patients will be left in “crippling pain”.
The findings from a poll of 99 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) – around half of those in operation across the country – reveal the extent of the cutbacks planned within 18 months.
One in three intend to close or downgrade Accident and Emergency departments, while one in five expect to close consultant-led maternity services, forcing women in labour to travel further.
More than half intend to close or downgrade community hospitals, while 46 per cent are planning an overall reduction in inpatient NHS beds.
One quarter anticipate job cuts in hospitals, and almost as many intend to close inpatient paediatric departments, the research found.
A Department of Health spokesman said:
“We know the NHS is under pressure, and to ensure the best standards of care in the future we need an updated system which even better prioritises GP access, cancer care and mental health treatment. The NHS is using sustainability and transformation plans to help deliver this change. No decisions have been made and none will occur without local consultation.”
Health services have been ordered to draw up 44 STPs, which were submitted earlier this month, in order to redesign services and tackle widespread financial problems across the NHS.
Senior officials have insisted the plans do not amount to cuts. But the findings of the research show widespread closures planned.
The survey of CCG chairmen and accountable officers found that almost half of the senior figures polled by Health Service Journal said they expected political opposition to their plans, while 40 per cent expected local GPs to try to block their plans.
Three quarters of those who took part in the survey said they thought that lack of funding would present a significant barrier to the success of their plans, while half said the inability to control patient demand would be an obstacle.
Article originally published by The Telegraph.
