'We've got to live in the real world'

3:30pm Monday 26th February 2007

Enfield's health boss has said that an irrational fear of change is behind opposition to cuts at Chase Farm Hospital.

Sally Johnson, Chief Executive of Enfield Primary Care Trust (PCT) said: "No change to services at Chase Farm is not realistic. I believe very strongly that if we do not do something, Enfield's health services will be of poorer quality than they should be."

Ms Johnson was speaking to the Independent on Thursday, ahead of next month's march against the reconfiguration programme she is spearheading.

Her verdict on healthcare in Enfield was damning. She said: "The model of care here is extremely outdated. Accident and emergency is such an old fashioned concept."

Opponents claim that change is being foisted upon Enfield's health care services and fear the community's needs have not been considered.

Mrs Johnson admitted that the case for change is grounded in national policy, and was adamant that borough health services must fit in with the recommendations of Government. She said: "Enfield residents deserve the best possible health care based on the best available evidence."

Government expert, professor Sir George Alberti, national director for emergency access, is currently analysing the five options on the table for the future of the medical centre at the Ridgeway.

Four propose that women and children's services be axed, while three advocate the closure of the casualty department. A recently added fifth stipulates no change at all.

Ms Johnson dashed the hopes of opponents who believed Sir George might halt the scheme. She said: "He's ensuring that the proposals we're developing are consistent with national policy and research."

However, she maintained that Enfield's population is insufficient to sustain a casualty department at Chase Farm, but conceded that changes would hit some residents.

She said: "We cannot have a hospital for everybody on every corner. Some people will have to travel further to be treated, but there will only be a small rise in travel time."

Fears over proposed cuts have focused on the impact they would have on expectant mums, sick children, and the elderly.

Ms Johnson rejected these concerns. She said: "The sort of health worries old people have are treated best by a good GP service and more care outside hospital. Pregnant women are not major emergencies. There are established protocalls in place to deal with complications."

To counter the impact of cuts, Ms Johnson pledged to give the ambulance service as much cash as it needed to handle extra demand. She also announced a £6m investment programme in GP surgeries, but was unable to say where they would be located.

She added: "We will not agree to something that is financially viable but not clinically safe and we won't agree to something that is clinically safe but unaffordable.

"We want to match the experts' recommendations of the best care models. We are not pioneering here, I would say we are catching up."

The reconfiguration controversy has come at a time when Chase Farm Jospital is struggling to contain levels of the debilitating gastric bug clostridium difficile, (C-diff) which are the highest in London.

Ms Johnson said: "Clearly it's worrying. The managers at Chase Farm take the issue very seriously and are following best practice on infection control."

The Save Chase Farm group has called on residents to march against closures on March 3. Organisers hope it will be the biggest display of dissent in Enfield's history.