Independent Reconfiguration Panel

I have today written to members of something called the "Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee" to request that they refer the A Picture of Health consultation to the Secretary of State for Health as I am not satisfied 1. with the content of the consultation and 2. that the proposal is in the interests of the health service in our area. Will you write too? My letter follows...

The Secretary of State announced to the House of Commons last year that he would as a matter of course ask the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) for advice on any such referrals. The Secretary of State will make any final decision but the IRP may undertake a full review involving you and me and our comments and evidence.

On the strength of an IRP referral, several hospitals have been saved as fully admitting hospitals. Please write to (Bromley Council) Councillor Charles Rideout, Chairman - Adult & Community PDS Committee, c/o Members Room, Bromley Civic Centre, Bromley, BR1 3UH or (Bexley Council) Councillor David Hurt, Chairman - Delivery of NHS Services Scrutiny Sub-Group & Health Scrutiny Committee Member, c/o Bexley Civic Offices, Broadway, Bexleyheath, DA6 7LB.

Dear

I am writing to request that you ensure that the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee reports the A Picture of Health consultation to the Secretary of State for Health for referral to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel for an independent review on the grounds that your electorate is satisfied neither with the content of the consultation nor that the proposal is in the interests of the health service in the local area. The content of the consultation does not allow for respondents to choose to retain Queen Mary's as a fully admitting hospital and is not in the interests of the health service in the local area for the following reasons:

1. The further one has to travel in an A&E department in an emergency, the greater the risk of mortality.
2. There has been no forward planning to cope with the increased patient throughput at Princess Royal, both in A&E and maternity, units which are already overstretched, due to any closures at Queen Mary's and elsewhere and the projected 100,000 increase in the local population over the next 10 years.
3. All 3 options in the consultation with regard to the downgrading of maternity services are a denial of choice as voiced by the Royal College of Midwives and in contradiction of the Department of Health's stated aims.

Further reasons can be supplied, however, I would hope that the above would be sufficient to convince you of the need to refer the consultation to the Secretary of State.

I trust that you agree, and look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely

NAME