30.09.15
Two hospitals face closure due to erratic services and growing demand
Two hospitals are at risk of closure as a result of changes in population, inconsistent care provision and growing demand in hospitals within the Surrey Downs CCG catchment.
The CCG published a clinically-led report outlining four possible changes to its five community hospitals in the future, three of which included closing hospitals. Four of the hospital sites provide inpatient and outpatient services in the region, while Leatherhead’s bedded services were closed in November due to staffing issues.
The first emerging option would maintain the current three-ward model, with inpatient wards at Dorking, Molesey and New Epsom and Ewell Community Hospital (NEECH), while developing Leatherhead planned care services.
But the other three options include the possibility of closing down NEECH after transferring its inpatient and outpatient services elsewhere, or closing down Molesey after transferring its services to Cobham Hospital.
The last option is an amalgamation of both suggestions, which would see the closure of two of the five community hospitals in the region.
Given that there is “significant inconsistency” in both the length of stay and occupancy across the four inpatient hospitals, this option would help the area cope with demand by providing services more efficiently and “therefore increase capacity”.
The report said: “If hospitals were to achieve and maintain an average occupancy of 95% and an average length of stay of 14 days, 60% more patients could be seen within the current bed capacity. This increase in capacity as a result of improved efficiency would potentially absorb the 6% increase in demand for community rehabilitation year on year for the next ten years.”
The review team, which has been looking at comprehensive patient and activity data from all settings since March, claims the changing needs of the ageing population and a forecasted demand growth justify the emerging recommendations.
Dr Jill Evans, governing body member and clinical lead for the review, said: “We wanted to fully understand how services are delivered now, whether they will meet the needs of our changing population and whether there are opportunities to further improve the already high standards of care patients receive, both in the wards and through outpatient services.
“I understand that local people may be concerned about some of the options that are included, particularly if they relate to their local hospital, and I would like to reassure people that we have carefully considered every option in getting to this stage. We do believe that changes to how some services are currently delivered will improve care.”
Its report added that it is “widely acknowledged” by the CCG and the “wider health community” that its current community bed provision has “some issues which are in need of urgent consideration and review”.
This includes a lack of consistency in the admissions criteria, variable discharge support arrangements, hospital estates of wavering quality (with some sites in need of “urgent repairs”), site-specific challenges in terms of capacity and layout, and inconsistent occupancy rates.
A separate programme is also being undertaken to determine the acute hospital bed requirements for the region’s population over the next ten years.
The CCG will use the next month to consult on the options with patients, locals and stakeholders before pitching any final recommendations to its governing body.