30 May 2003
Government plans to revive cottage hospitals are based on 'resources that do not exist and technology that has yet to be invented', the British Medical Association said this week.
In February, Health Secretary Alan Milburn published a consultation document that reversed government hospital policy of the past few decades. Keeping the NHS local says 'biggest does not always mean best'.
Instead of closing small hospitals and consolidating their services in larger units, Milburn said the focus should be on redesigning their functions. These could include services such as 24-hour emergency surgical and medical care and video links with specialists at larger hospitals.
While the BMA acknowledged the value of local services, it said the infrastructure and technology was not in place to implement the proposals.
It added that from August 2004 the European Working Time Directive will apply to junior doctors and will limit smaller hospitals' ability to provide 24-hour emergency care.
BMA consultants' leader Paul Miller said the public must be involved in the decision to offer more services in cottage hospitals. They should also be told of the risks, such as patients having to be transferred to bigger hospitals if complications arose.
'Small hospitals deliver very high standards of care, but the government needs to be crystal clear about what they can and can't do,' he added.
PFmay2003
