Campaigners hold protest ahead of South Tyneside Hospital decision
A judicial review will be held this week into the future of the site, following NHS plans to downgrade some services
Campaigners are holding a protest vigil outside South Tyneside Hospital - ahead of a judicial review into its future this week.
People living in South Shields have been joined by local councillors and MPs in opposing NHS plans that'll see some services moved to Sunderland.
Emma Lewell Buck is the MP for South Shields and says she doesn't accept the NHS' argument that something has to give:
"I understand the lack of funding but I will not sit back while my local hospital is downgraded and the service to my constituents weakened.
"This is not the solution here - it'll only create more problems in the future."
Matt Brown, Director of Operations at South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said:
“These critical changes have been about taking steps to protect services that are exceptionally vulnerable because of a severe shortage of skilled medical and nursing staff, these are highly important services for our patients and the CCGs took their decision making extremely seriously, based on clear clinical evidence.
"It was very valuable to have the process we’ve followed and decisions we’ve made around the future of hospital-based stroke, maternity and urgent paediatric care reviewed by a team of experts at the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP). The IRP advised the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in the summer that they found that changes to these vulnerable services are in the interest of local health services in South Tyneside and Sunderland – and we know that we are seeing positive improved treatment and outcomes, particularly for stroke patients, as a direct result of these changes.
“We are confident in our open and transparent public consultation process which was awarded a certificate of ‘Best Practice’ from the independent Consultation Institute, and as always, we are grateful to all our hard-working NHS staff locally, in particular to those who are working in these vulnerable services while there continues to be uncertain until this legal challenge is resolved.
“We will continue to openly engage with staff, patients, stakeholders and elected members over the coming months as we work together to develop future plans for the best possible local hospital services. Together we are all committed to securing the very best care for the people we serve, the residents of South Tyneside and Sunderland."