A North London council has been accused of “failing residents” after the hours of the Urgent Treatment unit at Central Middlesex Hospital were cut earlier this month.
On 2 February, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) announced that the hospital’s urgent treatment centre would now open from 8am to 9pm – a 21 hour a week reduction.
The Trust said the move is necessary due to low attendance numbers after 9pm and those patients would “be better supported by their GP or pharmacy”. However, opposition parties in Brent have criticised the council for failing to effectively scrutinise the cuts, not advocating for the best outcome for their residents, and not communicating the decision.
The changes to the opening hours were implemented on 1 February but they weren’t reflected on the hospital website on the day and the Trust didn’t make the announcement until the following day, meaning many residents won’t have been aware of the changes until after they had taken place.
The LNWH Trust carried out two public engagement events in October of last year in order to gauge public opinion prior to the roll out. At the time, LNWH Chief Executive, Pippa Nightingale, said: “We want to understand how a change in opening hours might affect patients, their families, or the people they care for.”
The announcement of the changes on the Trusts website stated: “A recent review of our urgent care services found that the centre saw an average of only four patients per hour between 9pm and midnight. We found that many of these patients could have received appropriate treatment or advice from their GP or a high street pharmacist.
“We gave local people an opportunity to share their views on the new opening hours through online and in-person public events and an online questionnaire. These did not result in any substantial or widespread objections.”
Following the decision, the Leader of the Brent Green Party, Cllr Mary Mitchell, hit out at Brent Council for the announcement being “met with silence” and accused the administration of a “pattern of glossing over residents’ concerns”.
Cllr Mitchell said: “While cuts to NHS services are outside the delivery remit of local authorities, the role of local authorities must be to scrutinise effectively any cuts, advocate for the best outcomes for their residents, and ensure transparency and communication with residents including thorough consultations.
“The removal of 21 hours of care may not appear to be a significant cut, and there may be valid justification for this decision, but this is another example of the gradual erosion of NHS care for Brent residents and the inability of [Brent Council] to effectively scrutinise and hold it to account.”
The Leader of the Brent Liberal Democrats has also criticised the council’s handling of the changes. Cllr Paul Lorber said: “The Labour Council have failed once again to hold the NHS to account for their decision to reduce hours at the Urgent Treatment Centre at Central Middlesex Hospital. We have a dedicated Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee in Brent where this decision should have been properly scrutinised.
“This would also have been an opportunity for the Council to advocate on behalf of residents and make the case for local people. Once the decision was made, it is ludicrous that the Council didn’t ensure proper communication to residents. This decision has and continues to cause significant confusion and upset in the community.”
Prior to the change, a petition – signed by 570 residents – called on the council to “examine the proposals”, which it suggested is “bad for patients, bad for staff, and bad for the NHS as a whole”. Whilst presenting the petition to Brent Council’s Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee last month, Zengha Wellings Longmore claimed local services had “already been cut back too far.”
