Open letter to residents
The Leader of Havering Council, Cllr Damian White, has co-signed an open letter to residents expressing concern at recent NHS capital funding decisions.
This is the letter that was published on 29 March 2019:
We express our concern at recent capital funding decisions affecting Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge and Havering. A bid of £70m for capital investment in Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) was unsuccessful.
Health facilities across BHR need capital investment, our populations are growing rapidly and changing. The demands on the local health infrastructure are considerable. It was therefore both disappointing and concerning that the capital funding allocation for the local area was so low.
We want to be very clear, the threat of closure of the Accident and Emergency unit arising from decisions in 2011 has been removed. There will continue to be an Accident and Emergency unit at King George Hospital. The local population has changed significantly since 2011 and is forecast to change further, there is a clear need for Accident and Emergency provision at King George Hospital both now and into the future.
The review of the clinical strategy of BHRUT is an important development. This will create an opportunity to consult with all stakeholders particularly the public on the Trust’s future clinical strategy. It will provide an opportunity for us all to contribute to shaping a long term vision and plan for services at King George Hospital, including the Accident and Emergency unit. Local Councils will be actively engaging in this process and we all will actively be encouraging our local communities to be involved.
We believe that the NHS in partnership with Local Authorities with the active engagement of our communities will ensure we have the services our residents deserve and need.
Cllr Jas Athwal, Leader, Redbridge Council
Cllr Damian White, Leader, Havering Council
Cllr Darren Rodwell, Leader, Barking and Dagenham Council
Chris Bown, Interim Chief Executive, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT)
Ceri Jacob, Managing Director, Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge CCGs (BHR CCGs)