A Clause in the Care Bill could close your local hospital through the backdoor

The campaign to Save Lewisham Hospital brought about one of the most significant defeats on this Government to date. A High Court Judge agreed with Lewisham Council and local hospital campaigners that Jeremy Hunt’s decision to downgrade services at Lewisham Hospital was unlawful.

But even before an appeal could be heard, the Government tabled an amendment to the Care Bill in the House of Lords which would have legitimised the Lewisham decision and could have relevance to every hospital in the country. Labour Peers did their best to vote it down, but the Conservative and Liberal Democrats ensured that it remained part of the Bill which will be debated by the Commons.

The proposal to downgrade services at Lewisham Hospital came as a result of financial problems in the neighbouring South London Healthcare NHS Trust (SLHT). A Special Administrator appointed to that Trust recommended that services at Lewisham – a financially stable, well performing hospital, not part of SLHT – should be downgraded. It was the first time that an Administrator had been appointed to a hospital trust.

The Special Administration process is completely different to any other hospital reconfiguration. It starts with the need to save money, with questionable clinician input. It is a very fast process with limited opportunity for public consultation. The consultation document which was produced in the case of SLHT did not even contain a direct question about the closure of A&E and maternity services at Lewisham. The financial analysis and operational planning is rushed and in the case of Lewisham and SLHT proved to be highly erroneous.

The Trust Special Administration process was never intended to be used as a “backdoor approach” to reconfiguration. But this was exactly what was attempted in Lewisham and should Clause 118 remain part of the Bill, it would be used for this purpose elsewhere. If this Clause had been on the statute book at the time the Special Administrator was appointed in South London, Lewisham’s full A&E and maternity service would now be closing.

We are not opposed to change in the NHS. But it is our firm belief that such changes should be done in consultation with local communities, local clinicians and local authorities. Changes to NHS services should always be focused on improving health outcomes and individual hospital finances should never be the starting point. The proposals contained in the Care Bill threaten these key principles.

The Care Bill has its second reading in the House of Commons today and we have written to every MP and Council leader in the country warning them of the threat it could have on their local hospital. We do not believe the Clause should remain as part of the Bill and are urging MPs to vote against it at the earliest opportunity. If you share our concerns, sign this petition and tell your MP just how worried you are.

Heidi Alexander is the MP for Lewisham East. Sir Steve Bullock is the Mayor of Lewisham