The debate about the so-called Healthier Together proposals comes to Salford on Wednesday when a panel of `experts' will put themselves up for questioning.
The complicated proposals - publicised through dull, complicated handouts in local papers will, among other things, possibly see Salford Royal, Central Manchester and Oldham become `super hospital's with Bury, North Manchester, and Tameside hospitals downgraded, alongside Rochdale and Trafford which have already lost their A and E...
Meanwhile Bolton or Wigan, and one of Stockport or Wythenshawe, hospitals will also be downgraded. The Healthier Together people are putting it out as a consultation, where people have a choice, but, as far as the Salford Star is aware, there is no choice to keep the services as they are. Which is probably why so few people are engaged in the process. Healthier Together seem to want a bear pit fight over resources but campaigners are refusing to take the bait and say there will be no winners not even in Salford.
"NHS bosses want us to spend the next few months fighting to decide which of Bolton or Wigan hospitals (and Stockport or Wythenshawe hospitals) should be downgraded and which kept for medical and surgical emergencies" say Karen Reissmann, of Save Bolton Health Services, and Katrina Lawrie, of Save Wigan Health Services.
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"The so called super-hospitals at Central Manchester, Salford and Oldham (called such because they retain a full range of facilities) will not be winners - because their wards will be over-full to overcrowded as people from other areas flood to fill their beds. When they merge services, beds will be lost" they explain.
"This `choice' is driven by the billions of pounds of cuts to our NHS" they add "Choosing to fight each other accepts these cuts and allows us to choose where to cut not whether to cut. Already we have cut too much. Another ward was closed recently at Bolton and resulting in even worse bed pressures. Operations are being postponed as emergencies come in. This will get worse.
"We cannot be allowed to join one side in a fight to decide which of our hospitals to downgrade. It's like deciding which of our arms to have cut off. My right arm might be stronger than my left, but I can do a lot more with both. We can have both Bolton and Wigan. We are speaking out to say, join us in our campaign to stop all our hospitals being downgraded."
On Wednesday night at The Lowry (right in the heart of the community...not!) the panellists will give their views and opinions about the proposals at the event, followed by a debate chaired by Gerallt Evans-Hughes, Senior Executive for independent social research practice Opinion Research Services.
Confirmed panellists include DR Paul Bishop, Clinical Lead, Salford Clinical Commissioning Group; Dr Martin Smith, Healthier Together Clinical Champion; Dr Hamish Stedman, Chair, Salford Clinical Commissioning Group and Councillor Margaret Morris, Salford City Council.
"The Healthier Together 'Question Time' events are an opportunity for people to take part in a lively, open and transparent discussion about proposals to change health services in Greater Manchester" says Salford GP, Dr Paul Bishop "These proposals represent the biggest changes to date to health services in Greater Manchester and this debate is a chance for the public to come and find out more about the planned changes and put their questions to our panel of experts. It is vital that people have their say now about how they want hospital, GP and community services to be provided in the future."
Most people would probably say `Hands off our NHS' but that's not on the agenda...
Healthier Together Question Time
Wednesday 24th September 7pm-8:30pm
The Hexagon Room, The Lowry
The consultation runs until the end of September and patients can have their say by filling in the official online consultation document at www.BestCareGM.nhs.uk
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