North West London

Dear residents and patients,

As doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who have spent our careers in the NHS caring for people in NW London and trying to ensure this care is delivered to as high a quality as possible, we have signed this letter to make clear our support for the Shaping a healthier future programme. We firmly believe in the need for change. The NHS in NW London is facing challenges which need to be addressed urgently. The care provided across our boroughs needs to be of a more consistently higher standard. We also firmly believe in the principles of centralising major services on fewer sites including A&E care and in localising and integrating out of hospital care, such as GP services. It has been claimed these proposals do not have clinical support. We categorically deny that. We and many of our colleagues in the clinical professions fully support them. We understand why some feel strongly about their own local services and it is right that we have a debate about those concerns, seek to answer any questions, and improve our proposals when additional suggestions are made. We also understand why there is a healthy debate about the three options proposed again, it is wholly appropriate to have that debate and to consider what will provide the best, locally-tailored services for each community. What would not be right however would be to leave things as they are, or claim that these proposals would cost lives when the opposite is the case, or claim that they are driven purely by money or by some kind of top-down management exercise. We are the clinicians on the ground and in the frontline of services in NW London and we strongly assert that these proposals are driven by the over-riding principle of improving patient care. It is what we have all devoted our professional lives to doing and it is what the Shaping a healthier future programme will enable us to continue to do in the future. Yours sincerely, North West London Clinical Board of Shaping a healthier future Programme

Shaping a healthier future the truth about the proposals

NHS North West London is consulting on proposals to improve hospital and community services as part of the Shaping a healthier future programme. Since consultation started, there has been much debate about the proposals. Some of this discussion has been well informed but some has been inaccurate. Here we tackle some of the most frequently heard myths and rumours with accurate information.

Myth: These proposals put patients at risk Truth: Clinicians have put forward these proposals to save lives and ensure patients get the best possible care for years to come. At the moment, our specialists are spread too thinly over too many sites. By centralising emergency surgery, A&E and specialist childrens services onto five major hospital sites (and maternity onto six sites) we can ensure that the right level of senior, expert cover is provided at all times. Centralising stroke services onto just two sites in NW London has already delivered excellent results and is saving an estimated 400 lives a year in London and the same can be said for cardiac care and major trauma services. Myth: Longer ambulance journey times will put patients at risk Truth: Not having access to the right specialists and equipment will put patients at risk. The most important thing when it comes to blue light journeys is that paramedics can reach patients quickly in order to stabilise the situation. To make this happen ambulances are not based at hospitals but rather on stands across the area they serve. They then transfer patients (while closely monitoring them) to the best centre for their treatment. Even now, this may not be the nearest hospital but rather the place that has the right specialists and right equipment on site. Myth: Hospitals will close Truth: No hospitals will close. Some will change. Under the proposals all nine hospitals in NW London that are part of this consultation will continue to provide the majority of the services that they do today. Those that are not designated as major hospitals will be local hospitals and will have an urgent care centre (UCC) that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. UCCs can provide better care for the majority of people who currently attend A&E but dont actually need specialist emergency services, allowing the A&E to concentrate on patients who require their expertise. We have produced a factsheet to explain what services our local hospitals and urgent care centres will provide. You can find this on our website or on request using the contact details below. Before we make any changes to hospital services we will be investing over 120m in out of hospital care, helping to keep people well and give patients better access to more local, convenient care.

Medical Director/Chief Executive, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Mike Anderson

Medical Director, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Tim Evans

Dr Susan La Brooy

Medical Director, The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Rory Shaw

Medical Director, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

Myth: These proposals are all about saving money Truth: These proposals have been developed by clinicians to improve treatment and save lives. The overall health budget is increasing but the health needs of our growing and ageing population are changing so clinicians need to use the money more effectively. This will help more people live healthily and will mean we can make new drugs and treatments available and ensure we have the best equipment, facilities and staff caring for people in NW London. Myth: Decisions have already been made so theres no point in responding to the consultation Truth: We havent made any decisions and our recommendations will benefit from the considered responses of people from across all of North West London and beyond. The consultation ends on 8 October 2012 and so you have until then to submit a response form and let us know what you think.

Medical Director, West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust

Dr Stella Barnass

Dr Ian Goodman

Chair, Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group

Dr Alex Lewis

Medical Director, Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Mark Spencer

Medical Director, NHS North West London

Dr Nick Broughton

Medical Director, West London Mental Health NHS Trust

Professor Martin Gore

Medical Director, The Royal Marsden

Chair, Central London Clinical Commissioning Group

Dr Ruth OHare

Chair, Hammersmith & Fulham Clinical Commissioning Group

Dr Tim Spicer

Chair, Hounslow Clinical Commissioning Group

Dr Nicola Burbidge

Dr Amol Kelshiker
Chair, Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group

Dr Mohini Parmar

Chair, Ealing Clinical Commissioning Group

Dr Mark Sweeney

To find out more about the proposals please come along to one of our consultation roadshow events, visit our website or contact the Shaping a healthier future team using the contact details below. You can also use these contact details to request a copy of the consultation document and response form.

Chair, West London Clinical Commissioning Group

www.healthiernorthwestlondon.nhs.uk.
Email: consultation@nw.london.nhs.uk Phone: 0800 881 5209 (Freephone) Post: FREEPOST SHAPING A HEALTHIER FUTURE CONSULTATION

Director of Nursing, Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust

Ms Jane Clegg

Dr Ethie Kong

Chair, Brent Clinical Commissioning Group

Dr Alfa Saadu

Medical Director/Deputy Chief Executive, Ealing Hospital NHS Trust

Medical Director, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Professor David Taube

(This must be written in capital letters and on one line. No stamp required).