“No ifs, no buts, no NHS cuts”
On 5th July 2024, the NHS will turn 76 years old, coinciding with the announcement of the next general election results. The dire state of A&Es is a stark reminder that the NHS’s founding promise—to care for everyone, regardless of wealth, from birth to death—is in jeopardy. The future of the NHS hinges on voters ensuring that politicians prioritise its preservation. As Nye Bevan said, “the NHS will only survive if there are folk with the faith to fight for it.” This general election must be a fight to save the NHS.
The quality of care at Southend University Hospital is experiencing a continued decline. According to the Southend Echo, there are plans to “re-designate” Southend Hospital’s neonatal unit. This change would result in premature babies born before 32 weeks being transferred to either Basildon or Broomfield hospitals for care, rather than remaining at Southend. Home cancer treatments are being suspended and worst of all, 600 jobs are being cut. This is to tackle a £100m deficit. Why is there a deficit? Not enough money from the government or mismanagement? Yes, both of those. And where is the £118m Anna Firth keeps telling us she’s ‘secured’. Promises, promises and out of touch as ever.
So much money was stolen or wasted during COVID while we banged our saucepans for the NHS workers. Just remember that when you vote on the 4th of July. the furlough scheme cost £4bn, what about the other £28bn?
I received an alert on the 17th of May to say Southend University Hospital was being inspected. Last July’s inspection had an overall rating of “Requires Improvement”. That’s like failing an MOT quite badly. The results will take about 2 months, but if it was this month, we’d have been in the bottom quarter. Essex Live reported: “Pipes were leaking in rooms where a patient was being nursed, more than 200 pieces of equipment needed reviewing and in Southend Hospital there were more than 700 repair jobs that needed finishing”
Nothing should come before our health and care in terms of priorities. HMRC collected £827.7 billion in taxes in 2023 to 2024, an increase of 5.0% from the year before. Where is it going? Here’s a summary of what’s going on that the Conservatives and our previous MP Anna Firth don’t want you to know, especially before the election:
- Closure Announcement: A ward at Southend Hospital is set to close on 1st July.
- Notice to Staff: Staff were given 4 weeks’ notice and must choose new areas to work.
- Ward Description: The closing ward is the only general medical/Endocrinology ward, with high acuity and 27 beds. It takes patients directly from A&E, the acute medical unit, ITU, and HDU step-downs, has the highest turnover, and provides the most discharges.
- Operational Impact: The ward closure is not due to seasonal pressures and is a well-established area. The hospital, already facing bed shortages, will lose 27 more beds.
- Additional Closures: Another ward has closed 7 beds, also not related to seasonal pressures.
- Future Bed Demand: There is an expected high demand for the closed beds shortly after the closures.
- Executive Communication: The hospital executive team has not adequately supported or communicated with staff about the closures, with the CEO stating the risk to patient safety was a risk he was willing to take.
- Changing Reasons: Reasons for the closure have varied and included no consultant cover, a consultant leaving (which was untrue), patient length of stay issues, and finances, but none have been clearly confirmed.
- Staff Confusion: Staff remain unsure of the true reason for the ward closure.
Conclusion:
The closure of a critical ward at Southend Hospital has raised concerns among staff about patient safety and the hospital’s capacity to manage patient care effectively. The reasons for the closure have been inconsistent, and communication from hospital leadership has been insufficient. This is OUR National Health Service. Not a piggy bank for private companies. Do we REALLY want to be in a situation like for Americans where getting sick bankrupts you?