Dear Sir,

From the beginning of this month local people will not be able to walk into the A&E at Leighton Hospital.

We have had this right for 72 years, since the NHS was established and now it is being taken away. Unless they are virtually at death's door, people will be sent away and told to ring NHS 111 to book an appointment.

How can you book an appointment for an emergency? It is not scaremongering to state that this change will sadly lead to some local people losing their lives unnecessarily.

The Dept. of Health have said, "A&E departments will still be open for patients to walk into without an appointment. The A&E appointment system is for patients who contact NHS 111 with conditions that are urgent but not life-threatening".

In other words, unless you are in a life-or-death situation, you will be turned away and told to ring NHS111 to make an appointment.

The Dept. of Health went on to write, "Before implementation of NHS 111 First in a local area there is extensive engagement by clinical commissioning groups with key partners and stakeholders including staff, clinical leaders, local authorities, Healthwatch and patient engagement groups. The programme has received broad support from the Royal Colleges and patient groups".

I would like to know just which key partners and stakeholders, including health and care services staff, clinical leaders, primary care staff, local authorities, Healthwatch and patient engagement groups, the clinical commissioning groups have consulted with?

I don't know of any. My own council has Leighton Hospital within its boundaries and we weren't consulted.

The truth of the matter is most people are blissfully unaware that such a major reduction in the local A&E service is even going to happen.

Who are these patient engagement groups, who clearly don't engage with patients, and rubber stamp a major reduction in the A&E service? Over 60 per cent of patients using A&E are walk-ins.

It is a disgrace that our local politicians have not objected to this major reduction in such a well used NHS service.

Everywhere you look NHS services are being cut back.

Why? They can't blame Covid. Even at the height of the pandemic in April/May, only 16 per cent of NHS beds in Leighton Hospital were filled with Covid patients. That figure is much lower now.

If anyone is turned away from A&E I would like to hear from them. I can be contacted on Twitter @CllrBSilvester.

Yours faithfully,

Cllr. Brian Silvester

Leader

Putting Crewe First

Minshull Vernon Parish councillor

Note: Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group is urging people in Cheshire who need urgent NHS care to contact NHS 111 before they decide to walk into A&E.

People are able to book a time slot for attendance at an emergency department, and the CCG says that will reduce the time patients spend in waiting rooms and help minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19.