MP Ryan has to defend ‘local A&E’ claim to NHS executive

Wednesday, 03 March 2010

THE man in charge of healthcare in Enfield has written to Enfield North MP Joan Ryan, slamming her for saying that Chase Farm is to retain a 24-hour “local A&E”.

From 2013 Chase Farm hospital will be left with a 12-hour consultant-led urgent care centre, with diagnostics, a paediatric assessment unit and an elderly assessment unit. The centre will be staffed by doctors 24-hours a day, so patients can receive some urgent care through the night.

Nigel Beverley, chief executive of NHS Enfield wrote to Ms Ryan following her
column in the Advertiser on February 17 saying: “I’d be grateful if you’d reflect the correct terminology when discussing the future of services at Chase Farm Hospital in order not to further confuse residents.”

The Enfield North MP used the term “local A&E” in a letter to constituents. But Ms Ryan wrote back to Mr Beverley saying: “The term local A&E is an established and well-used one in health policy… this is a term that has been consistently used to date by NHS Enfield.”

She told the Advertiser: “I have been working so people in Enfield know whatever time of the night or day there will be doctors and nurses available at Chase Farm Hospital to treat them. Our local A&E will be able to provide urgent care 24 hours a day, exactly as my letter to residents states. This is a really important step forward in our campaign to save the A&E at Chase Farm Hospital.”

Nick de Bois, Conservative candidate for Enfield North, said: “At a time when trust in politicians is so low, it is a great shame Joan Ryan has chosen to play word games over Chase Farm Hospital.

“The straightforward choice at the forthcoming election is whether to support the status quo of Joan Ryan’s Labour government’s decision to downgrade our hospital, or support the only prospect of change through David Cameron’s commitment to halt the cuts and conduct
a proper clinical review.”

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1 comments on this news item

Posted by : Donald Smith, Palmers Green | Wednesday 03/Mar/2010 | Report this comment

Residents need to understand that care planned to be available at the Chase Farm Hospital site will only be for urgent care (minor injuries) and walk in patients. After assessment Trauma cases will generally be transferred to NMUH or Royal Free Hospital; and Stroke cases to Northwick Park. The HEMS service will take cases by helicopter to Royal London, Whitechapel

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