NHS bosses have agreed to hold patient information sessions to explain more about controversial plans to change the levels of care available at Barrow’s Furness General Hospital but the area’s MP has criticised the move as coming too late.
The decision to arrange the sessions has shifted the timeline, according to the medical director of the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, with the organisation pointing out the move was not a formal consultation but a chance for people to get information from the board and trust leaders and share their views.
In July the board announced the highest level of critical care would not return to Furness General Hospital.
Level 3 intensive care was suspended at the hospital last September due to a lack of qualified and experienced staff.
It had only three permanent consultants in post against a national guidance requirement of eight.
Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, the commissioners of the service, said since the suspension of Level 3 at the hospital, few patients were affected by the change.
It said over six months, 30 patients were transferred to a different provider, 10 of whom would have been transferred even if there had been a Level 3 unit at Furness General Hospital due to their clinical needs, and there had been no adverse outcomes.
The board asked the region’s Clinical Senate to carry out an independent review to advise on the safety and sustainability of the service.
Following the publication of this review, the board decided that the preferred option was to make this temporary suspension permanent.
Over the summer a 13,000-name petition opposing the change was gathered by Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham.
Businesses, led by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, including members of Barrow and Ulverston Business Improvement Districts, Spirit Energy, Oxley Developments have written to the board expressing concern at the proposed change and calling for a public consultation.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s Health and Adults Scrutiny Committee will debate the issue when they meet next week.
Today NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board and the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Furness General Hospital announced they had committed to an additional programme of engagement with the public before a decision was made about the temporary suspension.
The NHS added: “The sessions will focus on sharing information about the current situation, reducing any misinformation, discussing the issues and challenges and reassuring people about the safety of services.”
A mixture of face-to-face sessions at venues and online sessions will be held over eight weeks.
The confirmed list of information sessions are:
- Wednesday October 8, 6pm-7.30pm, Nan Tait Centre, Abbey Road, Barrow
- Friday October 10, 2pm-3.30pm, Millom Community Hub
- Thursday October 16 6pm-7.30pm, virtual session
- Wednesday October 22 10am-11.30am, Coronation Hall, Ulverston
- Thursday October 30, 6pm-7.30pm, Nan Tait Centre, Abbey Road, Barrow
Professor Andy Knox, medical director at NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, said: “We are aware of the concerns that have been raised about what it could mean for patients if the suspension of Level 3 intensive care at Furness General Hospital is made permanent, so we have arranged these engagement sessions to give people the chance to come and talk to us.
“We want to reassure our local population that patient safety is our topmost priority and your concerns and views do matter to us.
“The sessions will enable us to discuss the recommendations we have received from the Clinical Senate and how we have considered the options available to us.
“It is important to remind people that no formal decision has yet been made.
“We also have to take into account that with so few people needing extended Level 3 care, it is not possible for our clinical teams to maintain their clinical competencies to a level that would provide safe care, and we want the people of South Cumbria to have the safest and best care available. This is what they deserve.
“Introducing this additional programme of engagement has shifted our timeline and we will keep everyone updated on next steps.
“We encourage those who have any questions or concerns to come along, and we’ll provide the most up-to-date information we have.”
Helen Skinner, chief medical officer, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are committed to engaging with as many members of the community as possible to understand and address their concerns regarding this issue.
“We recognise the significant worry it has caused and welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters openly. We strongly encourage anyone with views or questions to come forward and speak with us.”
But Mrs Scrogham said after months of uncertainty and growing calls for a full public consultation,the offer of information sessions has come too late.
She said: “This is offer is welcome but it’s too little too late.
“People don’t need these changes explaining to them, they need a proper say in the future of the hospital. This engagement must not an alternative to full public consultation in line with the national guidance and I hope that the council’s Health and Adult Scrutiny Committee will recommend that route when they meet on Wednesday.”
