Hospital cuts could leave residents facing ‘potentially fatal’ journey times

Fenland District Council has called for answers after it was revealed that ‘vital services’ could be cut from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn

A district council has invited health chiefs to face questions over fears vital services could be cut from the nearest hospital to many towns and villages.

Residents in Wisbech and parts of Fenland may have to travel to Peterborough after the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn suggested it could shut its A&E, intensive care and maternity units.

Cllr Samantha Hoy said that region already suffers from health inequalities where residents are unhealthier and die sooner than the national average. The Conservative councillor told a meeting of Fenland District Council that it is “vital” they have “good access” to healthcare – but services at North Cambs Hospital and Doddington Hospital are already facing cuts.

Cllr Hoy, of Wisbech South, said it was “unclear” what services were being cut and called for the chief executive of the relevant NHS trusts to answer questions from the council’s overview and scrutiny panel.

She said: “There’s a lack of transparency, there’s a lack of answers – but residents are telling us that they’re having appointments changed and moved to different areas. It’s not an easy journey to Peterborough in the best of times, and so we absolutely cannot lose this service. I think it is vital for so many residents.”

Cllr Maureen Davis, of Doddington and Wimblington, said: “We need to be absolutely clear – we cannot, and we must not stand by while vital health services are gradually taken away from our communities.”

The Conservative councillor said that closing more services will force residents to travel “further and further for treatment” and rural communities “should not be treated as an afterthought”.

She said: “In an emergency, every minute counts – a longer journey is not merely inconvenient, it can have life-changing or potentially fatal consequences.”

Conservative councillor Andrew Woollard said that, as chair of the overview and scrutiny panel, he would be happy to invite health chiefs to face questions, but added they have “no statutory power to insist” they come.

Summing up, Cllr Hoy said: “We’re one of the richest countries in the world, we have one of the highest tax rates in the world and NHS funding accounts for 11 per cent of GDP – which is higher than average in developed countries – and we have hospitals that are falling apart. There is something really wrong in this country and there is something really wrong with our health system.”

The council passed the motion to formally invite health chiefs to answer questions on the potential cuts to services at North Cambs Hospital, Doddington Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

They will also write to the leader of Norfolk County Council to ask what action they have taken on the matter to date.