We reveal the dozens of maternity and A&E units which have been closed or downgraded since 2010 and the dozens more now under threat
Dozens of maternity and A&E units which have been closed or downgraded since 2010 Photo: PA
6:00AM GMT 26 Oct 2014
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Research by The Telegraph shows that dozens of NHS maternity and Accident & Emergency units have been closed or downgraded since the last election, with even more under threat. Here, details of the changes which have taken place, and the changes facing decisions in the coming months:
Accident & Emergency closures and downgrades since May 2010
Downgraded:
Hammersmith, west London September 2014
Central Middlesex Hospital, north London, September 2014
Chase Farm, north London December 2013
Wycombe Hospital, Buckinghamshire downgraded from an emergency medical centre which took some ambulance cases to a minor injuries unit, October 2012
Trafford Hospital, Greater Manchester, November 2013.
Queen Elizabeth II, Welwyn Garden City, A&E services reduced to 12 hours a day in January 2012, with minor injuries service overnight. From Oct 1 2014, no A&E but 24-hour urgent care centre dealing with minor injuries and illnesses.
Queen Mary’s Sidcup, south east London, temporarily closed winter 2010, officially downgraded in October 2013
Cheltenham Hospital, Gloucestershire July 2013
St Cross Hospital, Rugby, September 2013
Stafford Hospital, closed overnight, December 2011.
Newark Hospital, Nottinghamshire, April 2011
Rochdale Infirmary, Greater Manchester, April 2011
Maidstone Hospital, Kent, September 2011
Downgrades agreed but not yet implemented
Wansbeck Hospital, Northumbria, due mid 2015
North Tyneside Hospital, North Shields, due mid 2015
King George’s Hospital, Ilford, due 2015
Dewsbury Hospital, west Yorkshire due 2017
City Hospital, Birmingham, due 2017-18
Sandwell Hospital, Birmingham, due 2017-18
Closed:
University Hospital of Hartlepool August 2011, urgent care centre opened elsewhere in the town
A&E downgrades or closures now planned or under consideration
Calderdale Royal Hospital, Halifax, west Yorkshire, preferred option was to close A&E earlier this year - public consultation delayed
Bedford or Milton Keynes; decision on preferred option to scale back could come this month
North Manchester Hospital, Fairfield Hospital, and Tameside Hospitals - proposals to close emergency surgery, so A&E patients likely to require it will be diverted to more major centres
Two or three of four hospitals - Wythenshaw, Stepping Hill, Royal Bolton and Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan – are proposed to lose emergency surgery
Lincoln, Grantham and Boston hospitals, Lincolnshire; plans to reduce the number of sites with full A&E
Basingstoke Hospital, Hampshire and Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester; proposals to centralise services – possibly at a new hospital – will be consulted on later this year
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford Hospital – proposals under discussion could lead to loss of full A&E from one of the hospitals
Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, proposals still to go to public consultation, but officials seeking to downgrade to an emergency centre, with major emergencies diverted to Worcestershire Royal Hospital and an emergency centre at the Alexandra Hospital.
Ealing, no decision taken, timetable likely to mean changes in 2017/18, if agreed
Charing Cross no decision taken, timetable likely to mean changes in 2017/18, if agreed
Maternity closures and downgrades since May 2010
Consultant-led units closed:
King George’s Hospital, Ilford, March 2013
Chase Farm, North London, November 2013
Rochdale, Greater Manchester June 2011
Salford, Greater Manchester, November 2011, replaced with midwife-led unit which may now be closed
Bury, Greater Manchester, March 2012
Queen Mary’s Sidcup, Kent, temporary closure September 2010, became permanent October 2013
QEII Hospital, Welwyn, October 2011
Consultant-led units replaced by midwife-led units:
Sandwell Hospital, Birmingham, January 2011,
Solihull Hospital, Birmingham, temporary closure in April 2010, midwife led unit set up in July 2010
Eastbourne District General Hospital, temporarily from May 2013, decision not to reopen taken in June 2014 .
Maidstone Hospital, Kent, September 2011
Friarage, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, consultant-led unit closed October 6, being replaced with midwife led unit
Midwife-led units closed:
Darley Birth Centre, Matlock, Derbyshire, July 2012
Corbar Birth Centre in Buxton, Derbyshire, July 2012
Canterbury Hospital, Kent, May 2012
Buckland Hospital, Dover, Kent May 2012
Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, near Hull closed temporarily in 2011, permanently, January 2012
Grantham Hospital, Lincolnshire, February 2014.
Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, Berkshire – closed temporarily September 2011, permanently in February 2012
Maternity unit downgrades or closures now planned or under consideration
Bishop Auckland Hospital’s midwife-led unit, Country Durham, closed on safety grounds since July 2013, future uncertain
Salford Royal midwife-led unit, under review
North Tyneside midwife-led unit planned for closure
Proposals to replace consultant-led units with midwife led units:
Stafford Hospital
Dewsbury and District Hospital, West Yorkshire
Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, Worcestershire
Bedford or Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Pilgrim Hospital, Boston or Lincoln, Lincolnshire
University Hospital Lewisham
Ealing
Basingstoke
Royal Hampshire County, Winchester
Mayday Hospital, Croydon; Kingston, south west London; St George’s, south London; and St Helier, Sutton – proposals which could lead to fewer consultant-led units and more.
The Telegraph
