Andrew Dismore

London Labour Assembly member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore AM challenged NHS bosses during a hearing of the City Hall Health Committee examining NHS plans for Accident and Emergency services for the forthcoming winter. (See video – http://www.london.gov.uk/webcasts/34154/asx)

Mr Dismore argued that “the proposals for additional funding are nothing more than a short term sticking plaster for A and E that will come off in the bad weather” – Mayor Johnson’s health advisor Dame Ruth Carnall, formerly the head of NHS London accepted the criticism.

Mr Dismore said:

“A and E services are already under strain, with London the worst performing region in the country. Hospitals operating full “type one” A and E units are already by this September  well below the target of treating 95% of patients within 4 hours: itself a relaxed target compared to that left by the Labour Government  in 2010 of 98%, and which target was then  being achieved. The situation can only get worse as winter sets in and demand increases.  

Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital is one of the worst, having missed the target in 39 of the past 53 weeks, and presently is at only 92.2% with 2,971 patients waiting too long in the last quarter, an increase of almost 50% on the equivalent  the previous year.

During the meeting, I challenged Dr Anne Rainsberry, the Director of NHS England (London) over the planned November closure of Chase  Farm’s A and E. I believe it is wrong to close the hospital’s emergency services in the first place, but to force this cut and a reorganisation on Barnet’s A and E as a consequence  so close to the winter when demand will go up is, to me, folly.  Dr Rainsberry said she wanted to do it earlier, but “asbestos had been found” which put the closure back whilst this was dealt with.

I also asked whose “head would roll” if the targets were not met this winter, despite the extra money being made available. Dr Rainsberry said that hospital Chief Executives would be held accountable- but it was clear that not meeting the targets would not be sufficient for action against failure: the Government are planning to move the goalposts, to ensure no-one will lose their job, as always seems to happen with NHS management shortcomings.

Dr Rainsberry also would not guarantee that no A and E would have to close temporarily at weekends or nights due to senior staff shortages.

The A and E service throughout London and especially in Barnet is under terrible strain, due to the failures of the Conservative led coalition Government. So much for their pledge to keep open Chase Farm. So much forthe Prime Minster’s pledge to the NHS. It is clear that this winter, patients will face serious delays due to the top down reorganisation that has wasted £2bn on bureaucracy, money that should have gone on patients. The Conservatives cannot be trusted with the health service.”