'Patients will die' warning as A&E to move; A&E THE BIG DEBATE.

Byline: By Emma Cullwick

CRITICALLY ill patients will die because of an "outrageous" decision to axe A&E cover for tens of thousands of people in Birmingham.

That is the grim prediction of health watchdog Coun Deirdre Alden who is furious at Health Secretary Alan Johnson's decision to move emergency surgery services from Birmingham's City Hospital to Sandwell.

Bosses at Sandwell and West Birmingham Trust welcomed the move, which will also see the main surgery team and beds move from Winson Green to Sandwell Hospital in West Bromwich.

Mr Johnson has also given the go-ahead to create a 24-hour surgical assessment unit at City Hospital to treat most severe patients, such as gunshot victims.

City Hospital will also keep its 24-hour access to emergency theatres and anaesthetic cover in case a patient needs life-saving surgery at the site.

But Coun Alden, chair of Birmingham health scrutiny committee, lambasted the Government decision.

"I'm absolutely furious," she said.

"It means people in the centre of Birmingham will face a pointless journey to Sandwell, which is outrageous.

"Ultimately this decision is going to cost lives because of the time wasted taking someone who is critically ill and in need of emergency surgery from Birmingham to West Bromwich.

"It will also mean long journeys for people wanting to visit their loved ones.

"I really hoped Alan Johnson would back us and listen to our concerns but he has failed the people of Birmingham and I am hugely disappointed."

Protesters say the decision will mean an extra 15-minute journey to Sandwell in an ambulance for patients from Handsworth, Aston and Winson Green.

Mr Johnson announced his decision after studying recommendations submitted to him earlier this month by an independent review panel.

The panel was drafted in after Birmingham's health scrutiny committee (BHSC) became so worried about the surgery plans that it exercised its powers to refer the matter to the Health Secretary for an independent review.

Dr Ken Taylor, of City Hospital Supporters Group, also condemned the decision.

"This is an absolute travesty," he said. "It's extremely bad news for the people of Birmingham. In the weeks that we have been waiting for this announcement, there's been terrible problems with nursing staff, not enough beds and infections, yet all we are going to do now is cram more patients into fewer beds and ship people out to Sandwell.

"I can only believe this socalled independent panel, which is Governmentf unded, is far from independent."

But Mr Johnson, whose decision cannot be appealed against, insisted: "I am satisfied that the proposals are in the interests of the local health services and users."

He also gave his full backing to the panel's following recommendations: Create a 'hospital at night' concept at City Hospital to provide out-of-hours emergency surgery; City Hospital's new 24-hour surgical assessment unit should be regularly monitored to ensure safe services; Patients transferred from City to Sandwell Hospital for emergency surgery must be taken in a "safe and appropriate manner";

The Trust should provide travel, such as a shuttle bus, for relatives of emergency surgery patients who may have to travel from the city to Sandwell Hospital;

West Midlands Ambulance Service must agree to a protocol that patients who need or are likely to require emergency surgery are taken directly to Sandwell Hospital, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Dr Peter Barrett, chairman of the independent review panel, added: "We know that for many people there has been period of uncertainty and anxiety over changes to services.

"During the course of our review we have listened to people from all sides of the debate including patients, staff, local authority representatives and interest groups. We are confident that our recommendations are in the best interests of local people."

A spokesman for Sandwell and West Birmingham Trust said the changes were likely to come into effect by the end of 2008.

"We are pleased that the Health Secretary has supported our plans for emergency surgery," he said.

"We believe that changes are necessary to ensure we are able to continue to provide high quality surgical services."

OUR SAY: PAGE 12

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

October 2006: Sandwell and West Birmingham Trust launches public consultation into proposals to scale back emergency surgery at City Hospital and merge children's and baby services across City and Sandwell hospitals.

January 16, 2007: 200 people turn out for the Birmingham Mail A&E Big Debate giving them the chance to quiz hospital bosses at the Afro-Caribbean Millennium Centre, in Winson Green. Many say they are unaware of the details of the plans.

January 18, 2007: Hospital chief executive John Adler agrees to extend the public consultation into merged services by a month after pressure from the Birmingham Mail that locals do not know enough about the changes.

March 15, 2007: The extended public consultation ends. The Birmingham Mail sends all readers' letters to analysts at Warwick University, compiling a report for the trust board.

May 4, 2007: A report on the public consultation shows more than half of residents are against proposals to scale back surgery at City Hospital.

May 10, 2007: Hospital bosses compromise on the plans, keeping a 24 hour surgical team at City Hospital to treat most severe patients, such as gunshot victims, but still moving the main surgery department to Sandwell Hospital.The revised proposals are agreed by the trust board.

May 18, 2007: Birmingham Health Scrutiny Committee use powers to refer the hospital trust's decision to the Health Secretary, calling for an independent review into changes to surgery.

June 22, 2007: An overwhelming 96 per cent of consultants at City Hospital vote in an anonymous poll against the cutbacks.

June 29, 2007: City Hospital Supporters Group writes to new Prime Minister Gordon Brown highlighting the need for an independent review.

July 18, 2007:New Health Secretary Alan Johnson writes to Birmingham Health Scrutiny Committee to say he has considered their request and has agreed to an independent review panel to investigate whether the plans should go ahead.

Sept 12, 2007: The independent review panel begins its three-month review into the controversial plans.

Oct 31, 2007: Birmingham Mail Editor Steve Dyson and health correspondent Alison Dayani met with the rndependent review panel.

Dec 18, 2007: Health Secretary Alan Johnson announces his decision, agreeing emergency surgery services should be moved from City Hospital to Sandwell Hospital.

CAPTION(S):

FLASHBACK... how the Mail has covered the debate.; 'BAD NEWS'... Dr Ken Taylor, of City Hospital Supporters Group, says the move is a 'travesty'.