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Press Release

COUNCILLORS VOICE CONCERNS OVER HOSPITAL CHANGES

7/12/05

Camden Council’s watchdog voiced fears over the impact changes at the Royal Free Hospital could have on residents’ health care, at a meeting last night (Tuesday 6 December).

An investigatory team of councillors - called the Overview and Scrutiny Commission (OSC) - called the meeting to probe how the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust is addressing a £10 million deficit. The meeting brought health chiefs, patient representatives, councillors and council staff responsible for social care together for a round table discussion at Camden’s Town Hall.

The trust announced the deficit in July 2005 and has been putting together a package of measures to balance the budget. The proposals include:

  • The loss of some services at the Royal Free Hospital in Pond Street, including closing two operating theatres and losing 117 beds
  • Moving the stroke service from Queen Mary House in East Heath Road to the Royal Free Hospital in Pond Street

The Chief Executive and Chair of the Trust set out the proposals and reassured the meeting that despite changes, there will be no reduction in numbers treated at the hospital.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Guthrie, OSC Chair, said:

“Camden Council is committed to ensuring changes at the Royal Free do not reduce the quality of care for residents. We called this meeting to get the key players round the table to ensure any changes do not impact negatively on residents or increase pressure on social care provided by the council through loss of beds.

“I am extremely pleased the trust is taking our concerns so seriously and welcome their reassurances that total numbers treated by the hospital will not reduce. We will continue to keep an eye on developments to ensure the trust’s budgets are balanced with the minimum impact on residents’ health care.”

Since 2003, Camden councillors, as representatives of the local community, have had a legal duty to oversee changes to the health service.

The next meeting to discuss the proposed changes will take place in the New Year. All meetings of the OSC are open for the public to attend.



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Camden Council

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