‘Health revamp will cost lives’ says watchdog

AWATCHDOG says Stockport Together - the huge proposed shake up of healthcare - will cost lives with 30 per cent fewer beds at Stepping Hill.

Stockport NHS Watch says beds at the hospital will decrease from 810 to 563 by 2021, there will be a 50 per cent fall in outpatient activity and a 30 per cent cut in GP appointments.

The NHS itself says the Stockport Together programme is a move to more community-based care, with earlier intervention lessening the need for hospital treatment, and that investment in these services will lead to more GP appointments with matters such as repeat prescriptions taken over by others to free up doctors’ time.

But Deborah Hind, from NHS Watch, is concerned community care will prove an inadequate substitute in the face of government cuts.

She said: “NHS leaders need to stand up and say these cuts will cost lives. Other councils around the country are refusing to carry them out.

“It is dangerous to imagine that community care can make up for a massive cut in hospital beds.

“Social care is suffering massive cuts, district nurses are severely overstretched and GPs are struggling with workloads.

“Bed cuts on this scale will make it much more difficult for very sick people to get the hospital care they need.”

Ms Hind says the business case published for Stockport Together stated the cuts in out patient activity and GP appointments.

And while the figure for Stepping Hill intended bed losses was not given, it could be worked out.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and Clinical Commissioning Group issued a joint statement responding to the claims.

It says the planned more community-based approach, which is currently out to public consultation, will provide more personalised care closer to home and GPs will be among beneficiaries of increased investment.

Andrew Webb, from Stockport Together, said: “This will be used for more appointments with primary and community professionals without further stretching GPs.

“The plan is to provide patients with faster care, through direct access to physiotherapy services and mental health care in GP surgeries. There will be the need for fewer hospital beds and outpatient appointments in the future, but not less care.

“Increased support for GPs will help deal with the repeat prescription workload. GPs spend around two hours a day dealing with such requests.”