Hospital hot topic as ballot looms

Concerns over the future of services at Newark Hospital have again been raised as the General Election campaign enters its final week.

The Labour candidate for Newark, Dr Ian Campbell, this week criticised NHS Nottinghamshire County’s consultation over its proposals for the hospital, while the Conservative candidate, Mr Patrick Mercer, moved to oppose the proposed closure of the pharmacy.

Dr Campbell, the chairman of the Save Newark Hospital Campaign, said: “It is disgraceful the way NHS Nottinghamshire County is conducting the consultation process.

“It is clear to me it is totally ineffective because vital information has been hidden from the general public, misleading statistics have been used, and those at the frontline who should be consulted are being bypassed.”

The campaign says it has information from clinicians suggesting the consultation process had not included an adequate number of doctors and nurses in defining the future of Newark’s emergency unit.

It is disputing the primary care trust’s statement that the same level of care currently available can be provided if the proposals go ahead.

They say 24-hour senior physician cover, which allows more serious conditions to be treated at Newark, would not be provided under the proposal for a minor injuries unit ‘plus’.

The campaign would like to see senior doctors rotated between King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and Newark to ensure cost-effective 24-hour emergency cover.

They claim patient attendance statistics for the A & E department are misleading because of the gradual reduction in the types of conditions taken there.

Meanwhile, Mr Mercer has written to the Secretary of State for Health, Mr Andy Burnham, seeking an assurance that the pharmacy will not close.

The Advertiser revealed last week that bosses at Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust are proposing to close the pharmacy, although pharmacy services would still be provided.

Mr Mercer said he opposed the proposal, which is not part of the Newark Healthcare Review, as he always said he would for any measure that eroded the efficiency and competence of the hospital and disadvantaged residents.

“I understand that this would bring Newark Hospital into line with policies in other hospitals but I am not convinced this will work to the benefit of the people of Newark,” he said.

Mr Mercer said it was an unwelcome measure at a time when healthcare provision in Newark was under intense scrutiny.

In response to Dr Campbell’s comments, Mr Mercer questioned why he was campaigning on the hospital despite previously claiming it was not a party political issue.

Both Dr Campbell and the Liberal Democrat candidate for Newark, Mrs Pauline Jenkins, are also against the proposed closure of the pharmacy. Dr Campbell described it as blatant cost-cutting.

Mrs Jenkins was very concerned about services being run down, particularly when Newark was growing.

She said any change in services should be opposed until the public received a believable explanation about the PCT’s intentions for the hospital.

Mrs Jenkins said people felt they were not being listened to and did not feel engaged in the consultation process. She said she did not like the PCT’s attitude of “we know best and you should listen.”

“People who use the hospital are quite experienced about what they need,” she said.

An NHS Nottinghamshire County spokesman said they were legally unable to comment on political campaigns until after the election as they were not a political organisation.

l The Save Newark Hospital Campaign held a peaceful protest outside The Minster School, Southwell, yesterday evening before the hustings organised by Southwell Churches Together.

The campaign said they wanted to make a statement to the candidates.