Widespread closures of A&E departments, paediatrics and maternity services will lead an extensive programme of hospital “reconfigurations” in the run-up to the next general election.
David Nicholson, the new chief executive of the NHS, said yesterday that up to 60 departments faced closure, affecting every strategic health authority (SHA). The bulk of the changes are designed to concentrate key services in fewer hospitals. Others will go some way towards reducing the £512 million deficit that the NHS recorded in the last financial year.
Mr Nicholson said that NHS trusts and the ten SHAs that oversee their work will go out to consultation later this year or early next “on a whole series of reconfigurations. Each SHA will have about half a dozen”.
The announcement came as a hospital was told that it faced possible closure as it struggled with debts of £6.5 million.Hinchingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, has been proposed for a stringent review of services by the local health authority. Last week the hospital, which is due to cut 200 jobs as part of a plan to save £7 million, announced the resignation of its chief executive, Douglas Pattisson.