A couple of weeks ago, Calderdale and Kirklees Councillors chided the press for alarmism in reporting news that our hospital Trust had developed plans for emergency overnight closure of Halifax A&E.
But at the time, the Trust wasn’t letting anyone – Councillors or press – see the plan.
Now, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, the plan has been made public.
It says “it is increasingly likely” that circumstances will force the emergency closure of Halifax A&E. Continue reading
The creation of NHS Foundation Trusts put hospitals beyond the effective scrutiny of local MPs. This means that the last people to hear about and be involved in changes to their hospitals are the people who use them – and pay for them.
The case of Halifax and Huddersfield A & E is an example of this. Calderdale CCG’s Chief Officer Matt Walsh said at the CCG Governing Body meeting on November 14th that CCCG had asked Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust (CHFT) to commission the National Clinical Advisory Team to review urgent care and to report on recommendations for the CHFT to consider. This review took place over the summer and autumn, within the CHFT.
CCCG expects CHFT’s recommendations to come through to its Strategy Review committee some time in December.
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