Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust has welcomed the publication of the Clinical Options Report by Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT).   Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals Medical Director, Dr Mike Baxter, comments:   “This is a welcome development.   My medical colleagues at this and other trusts have sought to determine the key issues and drivers forreorganisation of healthcare across Surrey.   It is important to recognise that this is not just about saving money; but also trying to realign services in a sustainable way in order to take into account factors which are changing the way health services are delivered.    Medical advances and changes in medical best practice outlined in national guidance mean that some services are better provided in a centralised way whilst other services can be provided closer to the patient’s home or community.     There is good medical evidence for example that having a consultant cardiologist available 24/7 at a hospital increases the chances of a good outcome for a heart attack patient and this can only occur in units large enough to provide this level of cover.

“Centralising some services will also enable a wider range of services to be developed and strengthened, of which may not be currently provided, so that Surrey residents do not have to travel outside the County.   A good example of a growing and developing service would be the angio-plasty service provided at St. Peter’s.  We are ready to work constructively with Surrey PCT and our neighbouring hospitals to ensure that the clinical services provided for those who live and work in Surrey are the best possible within the constraints we all face.”

Trust Chairman, Clive Thompson CBE, says: “The report highlights some important numbers which the Royal Colleges and others have recommended as the basis for creating the critical mass required to ensure that clinically services are the best they can be.   To maintain the skills of doctors and nurses, and ensure that we have the most efficient services possible, it is important that we get as near to these numbers as possible.”

Glenn Douglas, Chief Executive at Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals says: “I have long argued for a rational debate aboutreorganising healthcare across Surrey.   This report from Matrix for Surrey PCT is a step in the right direction.    Whilst I, like any chief executive, am proud of the services which we offer it remains the case that Surrey PCT will be consulting on options which, as the report published today indicates, are likely to include changes to A&E at either St. Peter’s or the Royal Surrey at Guildford.

“During the consultation we need to ensure that the voice of local people is heard so that the needs of our catchment population continue to be met and we end up with services which are both clinically and financially sustainable.   Changes in medical practice are moving at such a pace that much more healthcare in the future will be provided in the community, whilstspecialised services will be more centralised.   This does mean a fundamental rethink of how hospitals work and in our case I believe it means that we will be doing less work overall in the acute hospital sector, not more.  It remains important that local people look at the facts and respond to the consultation document when it is published.