Saturday 20th April sees a March in support of Stafford Hospital Acute Services that are under threat
You may have followed the news that Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation trust which runs Stafford hospital has been put into administration by Monitor (the Health Regulation organisation)
This follows concerns about the financial viability of the hospital and the extensive media coverage of the issues around standards of care.
The impact of putting the Foundation Trust into Special Administration is that the administrators now have 45 days in which to develop sustainable long term proposals for the future of the services to patients provided through Stafford and Cannock hospitals.
There will then be a further 30 days of public consultation on the proposals.
A potential consequence of this, highlighted in the Contingency Planning Team report in March is that the provision of a number of existing services currently provided through Stafford Hospital are under review, based on the demand and volume of treatment required, and the alternative provision in the area:
· For maternity births, Mid Staffs Foundation Trust (MSFT) ranks 135th out of 148 services in England.
· For A&E attendances, MSFT ranks 132nd out of 150 services in England.
· For non-elective (emergency) surgical spells, MSFT ranks 133rd out of 166 services in England.
· For paediatric spells over 1 day, MSFT ranks 116th out of 167 services in England
Stafford and Cannock Hospitals are currently operating as normal, and will do so until any future plans are adopted.
However if you have a view on the potential changes in provision, or want to show your support for Stafford Hospital and the services it offers the community, then your Union would urge you to sign the petition here,
and join the March to the Hospital taking place this weekend (Saturday 20th April) starting at 2pm from Market Square Stafford.
More details on the March and the issues faced by Stafford Hospital can be found here.
http://www.supportstaffordhospital.co.uk/rally.html