Birthplace of the NHS to lose A&E unit

Posted: July 13, 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence 

Trafford General Hospital is due to be downgraded to an urgent care centre after being the first hospital to treat a patient under the NHS. The hospital is to lose its A&E unit, which will first be replaced by an urgent care centre, and then a minor injuries unit – announced the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

Campaigners argue that this means that patients have to travel much further for the treatment they need

Not only is the A&E unit of Trafford General to be affected by this change, but Jeremy Hunt has also announced that the concentration of vascular services in Cumbria and Lancashire are to go to three specialist centres in Carlisle, Blackburn and Preston.

Second smallest accident and emergency department in the UK

Matthew Finnegan, chair of the Save Trafford General campaign, said: “They have got to listen to what local people say and people want an A&E.” However, Mr Hunt argues that Trafford General is the “second smallest accident and emergency department” in the UK, and that between midnight and 08:00, the hospital sees only two patients an hour. With these facts in mind, it has been decided that the hospital will become a specialist orthopedic centre with expanded day services. A&E services at neighbouring Wythenshawe Hospital are to expand to compensate.

Mr Hunt did acknowledge that people may have to travel further to receive treatment, but believes that the “clinical benefits outweigh the disadvantages of travel times“.

A spokeswoman from the Department of Health said that the changes would only occur at Trafford General once it has been confirmed that the three neighbouring A&E departments can provide a high level of service and meet standards consistently.

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