NHS hospital closures and closure of St Mary's Sidcup

Following on from the global economic downturn resulting from reckless banking strategies and years of poor economic strategies by the Labour government, obviously changes were necessary in public spending to revamp public finances. However, what the Coalition government are implementing is clearly flawed. Cuts to NHS services, policing and education will cost lives and impact on recovery by future generations. The Coalition may not have been responsible for the banking disaster, but this is what they’ve inherited and they need to find ways of financial resolution which imposes the burden onto those who benefited most from the years of plenty to ensure Britain remains a first world economy. With current strategies, the UK will rapidly spiral into chaos and the current state of affairs will look positively utopian in hindsight.

Looking at a recent report, and sadly one which is likely to become only too common; a woman and her unborn child both died due to unacceptable standards of care at a hospital in Romford. Highlighted in the report is the fact that there was only one paediatrician looking after 39 patients at the time. Staff shortages and cuts to healthcare lead to increased mortality. This much is an obvious outcome, a lesson which should never have happened, should never be repeated and I extend my sympathy to the grieving family.

Sadly, it seems that things are going to get dramatically worse for the borough of Bexley. The Conservatives promised to halt the closures before they were elected in May.

[From the Conservative Party election manifesto: ‘We will stop the forced closure of A&E and maternity wards, so people can have better access to local services.] However, shortly following a ‘temporary’ closure of the A&E in November 2010 due to staff shortages, the A&E ward of Queen Mary’s was stripped of its beds and equipment. As a result, Bexley is the only borough in London without an A&E department.

http://www.sidcupcommunitygroup.co.uk/#/queen-marys-hospital/4544201379

The populace of Bexley are now being re-routed to the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Woolwich 8.5 miles away. Despite protests by Bexley residents, this closure has been allowed to proceed by the coalition government. On March 7^th, even the residents of Woolwich staged a protest at the increased burden on their own healthcare system arguing that the Queen Elizabeth hospital will not be able to withstand the increased burden due to the closure of St Mary’s hospital.

The truth which is beginning to emerge from this fiasco is another example of the greed is good culture and a complete disregard for public safety. Plans are being drafted for the sale of the Queen Mary site for housing. Great for business and development, so sorry some people will need to die as a result. Will the hindsight of history show a money trail of corruption between politics and big business to fast-track the closure of St. Mary’s hospital? I would personally bet my life on it. Will anyone ever be held directly accountable as a result? In the UK, are you kidding me? The one guarantee of life in Britain is the complete and absolute lack of accountability of politicians, business people and the upper classes for their actions.

So with an aging population and an increasing maternity rate, Sidcup has become a ticking bomb for healthcare. The government was quick to bail out the banks; argued against increased taxation of bankers bonuses; is slow to impose further economic burden onto the rich and affluent. Yet the majority will face hardship, poverty and social decay to fund the selfish greed of the ruling class. This is an untenable strategy. Britain is on course for disaster. God-speed to those who are able to emigrate and escape the collapse, God bless those who can’t.

Will there ever be common sense in public spending decisions?