Cheltenham A&E won’t close says Health Secretary

Cheltenham’s accident and emergency department is to stay open, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said today.

NHS chiefs announced plans to change the future of emergency medical care in Cheltenham in August, which including an idea being discussed to create a ‘centre of excellence’ of planned care at Cheltenham General.

The NHS in Gloucestershire have continuously denied any plan to close the hospital’s emergency department.

Asked in the House of Commons today by Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk for an update on what the NHS in Gloucestershire would propose, Mr Hancock said: “No proposals to close the A&E at Cheltenham will be part of the forthcoming consultation.”

He said he had spoken to the chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Deborah Lee, and could confirm the unit would stay open.

There has been fears and speculation the trust would “downgrade” the town’s A&E unit, leaving all emergency care to be carried out in Gloucestershire Royal.

A petition calling on the trust to keep the department open has reached 20,000 signatures.

The trust has denied claims it will close Cheltenham’s emergency department and re-iterated that no decision has been made.

It added the public and staff will be consulted on any significant changes which follow from the engagement programme in Spring 2020.

WHAT MIGHT CHANGE?

Services such as general surgery – the surgery of the gut – and image guided surgery are among ideas the Trust wants to receive the public’s views on.

A period of engagement will take place on the NHS’ Fit for the Future document, which lays out ideas for change.

The Trust have called the idea of the separation of services in Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal “centres of excellence”.

A public handout said creating the centres of excellence would reduce waiting times and fewer cancelled operations, ensure safe and consistent staffing levels and would improve health outcomes.

In the handbook, the Trust said: “If you have a life and limb threatening illness or injury that needs a 999 response, evidence suggests you have the best chances of survival and good recovery if you receive treatment in a centre with the right staff expertise, facilities and equipment.”

Currently in Gloucestershire there are full emergency departments at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

The Trust said it will set up a citizens’ jury, a public hearing a survey and drop in events to engage with the public.

WHAT THE TRUST SAYS

A spokesman for the trust said: “The Trust is pleased to have had the support today of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in communicating our message that there are no proposals to close Cheltenham A&E.

“The current Fit for the Future engagement is about sharing the challenges facing health services in the County and providing an opportunity for people to share their ideas and have their say on how best to deliver outstanding specialist hospital care in the future, including local A&E services.”