Potential lifeline for Chase Farm services (From Enfield Independent)

Potential lifeline for Chase Farm services

10:44am Thursday 15th May 2008

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CAMPAIGNERS working to save services at Chase Farm Hospital have been thrown a lifeline after the Secretary of State for Health asked an independent panel to consider the prosposed changes.

Earlier this year health chiefs took a drastic decision which would have meant the loss of the full accident and emergency department at Chase Farm and the downgrading of the hospital's maternity services department.

But now Alan Johnson MP, the Secretary of State for Health, has asked for more advice relating to contested proposals for changes to health services across Bar-net, Enfield and Haringey.

It will be provided by the Independent Reconfigura-tion Panel (IRP), the independent expert on NHS service change.

What this ultimately means is that the previously preferred option - Option One - to downgrade services - could yet be scrapped after all Save Chase Farm councillor Kate Wilkinson said she was "hopeful rather than too confident" that things would change, but admitted the decision spelt great news for campaigners.

She said: "We are optimistic that they (the IRP) will look at all the issues we have around Option One.

"We have sent them a long report of all the reasons that we felt the (public) consultation was flawed and we will be meeting with them in due course.

"This is good news for everyone who has campaigned for Chase Farm."

Mr Johnson's request follows a referral to the Health Secretary from the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Clinical Strategy Joint Scrutiny Committee.

The referral relates to Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Primary Care Trusts' proposals to redistribute services between Barnet, Chase Farm and North Middlesex hospitals and the associated development of primary and community services in the area.

The IRP will now undertake the review and consider whether the proposed chan-ges to services will ensure the provision of safe, sustainable and accessible hea-lth services for local people.

Dr Peter Barrett, chair of the IRP, said: "The focus of our reviews is always the patient and the quality of care.

"During the course of the review the IRP will be listening to all sides of the debate and gathering evidence loca-lly to ensure that our recommendations are in the best interests of local people."

On completion of the review the IRP will make recommendations to the Health Secretary by July 31 in relation to the proposed changes and, if appropriate, any implications for other clinical services.

The Health Secretary will then make a final decision.

To contact the IRP call 020 7389 8055 or email info@irpanel.org.uk

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