PRESS RELEASE
Southend Labour Leader sceptical about Sustainability and Transformation
Plan for south Essex
Today NHS England published ‘Sustainability and
Transformation Plan’ documents for Mid and South Essex. The government has
ordered such plans be drawn up for every area of the NHS in England in order to
address the financial crisis in the health service.
Ian Gilbert, Leader of the Labour Group on Southend Council says: “We are all
aware that the NHS faces huge challenges. Unfortunately many years have been
wasted by the government’s ludicrous health reforms and our local services are
in crisis."
"We recognise that there are benefits from closer working and
specialisation within hospitals in the region, and that such changes can
improve patient care. However as this document makes clear there are also
serious risks which need to be seriously examined."
Cllr Gilbert added: "The huge, glaring concern for us is if people with
life-threatening emergencies in Southend end up having to be taken to Basildon
for treatment, given the regular congestion on these roads. The time it takes
to get a patient to hospital is most definitely a factor in their chances of
recovery, and there are surely serious risks around this."
"We are also sceptical if the promised savings from preventative work can
be delivered, given that the government has slashed the public health budget
which funds much of this work."
"We will support changes to the local NHS that are
based on clear evidence of improved care for patients, but we will vociferously
oppose any changes that see local people paying the price for Conservative
mismanagement of the health service.”
