West Middlesex hospital has been serving Hounslow and other neighbouring borough’s residents for over a hundred years. However it is now part of big structural changes for regional hospitals in line with the new NHS North West London programme (Shaping a healthier future).
Due to a decision made by the Joint Commission of Primary Care Trusts last month, several regional hospitals including the nearby Hammersmith and Ealing hospitals are set to have their A&E departments closed and will be downgraded to “local hospitals” while hospitals like West Middlesex will become “major hospitals”. The aim is to centralise specialist care to fewer major hospitals such as West Middlesex and for non-urgent care to be distributed across the community. The proposed changes are to take place over the next five years, injecting £23 000 000 to West Middlesex to develop the A and E and maternity department, and are foreseen to save the health industry a £1 000 000 000.
Local residents and campaigners are concerned that West Middlesex will struggle to cope with the increased demand. However these concerns are dismissed by hospital officials. Besides the expansion of the workforce and facilities, West Middlesex is one of few NHS hospitals that is able to lay claim to spare facilities already in place, with not one, but two, wards unused in late 2012. There is also a potential for part of the hospital establishment to be sold to a private body for the provision of private health care, generating funding.
Our local hospitals are undergoing major restructuring and overhaul. West Middlesex Hospital, with the proposed increase in staff and facilities, should continue to provide its well-known high quality of care, hoping to provide a better service to more of our community’s people.
