SaHF DMBC Volume 1 Edition 1.1.pdf - Shaping a healthier future

Figure 9.31: Possible choices between pairs of hospitals
Prior to consultation (November 2011 to July 2012) clinicians recommend the pairings. This
recommendation was approved by the Clinical Board and the Programme Board preconsultation.
9.7.33 Feedback received about identifying the best geographical spread of the
remaining sites during consultation
During consultation we received the following feedback about the seventh hurdle criterion:
An independent report conducted by Tim Rideout Limited on behalf of the London
Borough of Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham Council
“Removing one hospital in a geographical pair does impact on car travel times, contrary to
the statements in the business case. Once Northwick Park and Hillingdon have been
earmarked as major hospital sites, the business case then couples the remaining hospitals
into geographical pairs. Ealing and West Middlesex are paired together. The methodology of
determining which remaining hospitals become major hospitals is based on the statement
that removing services at one of each hospital in a pair has little impact on travel times.
Travel time analysis indicated residents would see a 10-13% increase in average journey
times if Ealing was not a major hospital, however, West Middlesex remained. No evidence
was given on the impact of increased ambulance times on mortality ratios, and why a 10-
13% increase in travel time was determined as low impact.
Given the proximity of Hillingdon to Wexham Park (out of area but with a Type 1 A&E, and
closer to Hillingdon than Ealing is to West Middlesex), it could have made sense to
designate the two major hospitals as Northwick Park and Ealing. The result would have been
a different series of potential options…going forward into the options appraisal.”
9b. Decision making analysis stage 5 323