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

o 27% of respondents to the question support relocating the Western Eye
Hospital to the major hospital at St Mary’s, 22% oppose
23% of respondents agree about moving the hyper-acute stroke unit from Charing
Cross to St Mary’s, 29% disagree.
Further detailed information about all this data can be found in Appendix F.
6.2.2 Main themes raised in the consultation response forms
The response forms included a number of open-ended questions which enabled
respondents to comment on the proposals in their own words. Accessing services was a
theme which was raised throughout. Respondents commented on journey times, accessing
services using public transport and the impact of the proposals on ambulance journeys.
Some respondents expressed opposition to some or any services closing. The proposed
closure of Ealing Hospital A&E received particular attention. Where people live, and the
hospital closest to them, is an important determinant of their views.
Quality of services emerged as another theme, with concerns raised about the capacity of
both major hospitals and out of hospital services (for instance GPs) to deal with anticipated
increases in demand.
Some respondents criticised the consultation process itself, for instance the evidence
provided in the consultation document or the response form itself.
These themes were echoed in the roadshows, hospital site events, GP events and focus
groups held by NHS NW London during the consultation period. In this strand of the
consultation, the need to inform the public about the proposed changes, and how to access
services, was frequently raised.
6.2.3 Petitions
A total of 18 petitions were received both opposing and supporting the proposals. 12 of the
petitions opposed the closure of A&E and other departments in hospitals; five were in
support of Option A while one supported West Middlesex’s status as a major hospital.
The petitions (some with a large volume of signatories) were generally in support of
particular hospitals. These tended to either be in support of a specific option for hospitals set
out in the consultation document, or called for specific services (for instance A&E) to be
preserved for a particular hospital or hospitals. The largest petition with 25,193 signatories
was a petition calling for Ealing, Central Middlesex, Charing Cross and Hammersmith
Hospitals to retain their status and keep existing services, from Ealing Council.
Two of the petitions also allowed signatories to post their own comments or respond to
specific questions about the proposals. All of these comments have been read by Ipsos
MORI and the general themes identified. For example, respondents to Petition T (Petition
calling for Secretary of State for Health to stop the closure of Hospital Services in west
London, in particular the A&E Departments of Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals)
were able to provide a comment to support their signature: 634 of the 1,332 respondents did
so. Of those signatories who provided a comment one in three express concerns about the
loss of A&E and/or specialised services, while a further one in five say that they believe no
services should close. Around one in five people who provided a comment through Petition T
express concerns that lives could be lost as a result of the planned changes to services in
NW London, while a further one in six state that the plans could results in greater travel
6. Consultation, feedback and how we responded 66