01.09.11
Lord Crisp calls for hospital closures and reconfiguration
More hospitals need to close in order to free up funds for dealing with long-term conditions through community care and new services, according to ex-NHS chief executive Lord Crisp, who has written a book about his tenure in charge of the health service.
He argues that overcapacity in the hospital sector is storing up difficulty for the future.
To cope with the ageing population, and to be able to ensure the hospitals are able to deliver services to the best standards, some hospitals will need to close, said Crisp.
In an interview with the BBC’s Today programme, Lord Crisp said: “The challenge now is dealing with the numbers of older people and those with long-term conditions. They need supporting in the community.
“That means a shift away from hospitals. There will be less need for large hospital outpatient departments and some services and whole hospitals will need to close or be merged with others.”
His remarks come as ministers are considering the future of A&E, maternity services and children's units at three hospitals in north London. Under the plans drawn up by the local NHS, Chase Farm hospital could lose its services.
Lord Crisp acknowledged his part in this problem, as the scale of hospital building projects went too far whilst he was in charge of the NHS.
He admitted: “By 2005 there was no hospital that was not thinking it was going to grow. We had major problems with very bad facilities; perhaps we could have built smaller or consolidated on fewer sites.
“We missed that opportunity and this government needs to grasp that. We can't keep services going just because there is a nice building.”
The NHS Confederation deputy chief executive David Stout has responded to Lord Crisp's comments, saying they must do more for less.
Stout said: “NHS leaders will have to make some tough decisions if the health service is to live within its means. This is a pressing issue and one that we must tackle now so that patients can continue to have access to the high quality care they expect.
“NHS organisations must find new ways of delivering services if they are to respond to growing demands on healthcare and increasing financial constraints. In reality, this is likely to mean closing some hospital services, having fewer hospital beds and providing care in different ways, particularly in the community.
“There is no question about it - we are going to have to do more for less. Now is not the time for inertia. But it is essential any decisions on changes to local services are based on evidence and have the support of clinical staff and local politicians.”
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