Concern over Cardiac Centre of Excellence u-turn

Councillor Jean Ashworth

The Chairwoman of the RMBC Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Jean Ashworth, has expressed her concern about the consultation process regarding the decision to scrap plans for a Cardiac Centre of Excellence at the Rochdale Infirmary.

Councillor Ashworth has voiced her concerns following a press statement released by the Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust about cardiology services.

The press release, from June 2009, is about the development of a Centre of Excellence through the Silver Heart unit at the Rochdale Infirmary – something which is no longer going ahead.

In particular there is a statement from Sir Jonathan Asbridge, Director of Healthy Futures, which says if any changes are to be made, full consultation and scrutiny must take place.

The statement in full, reads: “If there is a clinical case to make any changes to the plans agreed by the Secretary of State, such proposals would require full consultation and scrutiny by the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee amongst others with final approval being made by the Secretary of State.”

Councillor Ashworth said: “I don’t remember the changes ever coming before Health Overview and Scrutiny or anywhere else for that matter. In fact the Pennine Acute decided these changes without any consultation what-so-ever.”

Councillor Ashworth is also very worried about the u-turn because the press release, quotes Dr Ruth Jameson medical director at the Pennine Acute saying: “There are a considerable number of people suffering with coronary heart disease in Rochdale and Bury; the provision of cardiac support for patients with coronary heart disease will be receiving much needed investment through additional services planned at Fairfield General in Bury. This will compliment the range of services currently provided at the Silver Heart Unit at Rochdale Infirmary.”

Councillor Ashworth, also a member of the campaign group ‘Friends of Our Hospital,’ said: “We now know that Rochdale Infirmary will not become a Cardiac Centre of Excellence as was promised, but, as Chair of the Health Overview and Scrutiny I would request an answer to the press release.

“Who did they consult with? Where and when did any consultation take place to make such huge and drastic turn around of plans agreed? And, who took the lead to agree such a decision?”

A spokesperson for the Pennine Acute Hospital Trust, said: “One of the recommendations of the recent National Clinical Advisory Team (NCAT) review of the Healthy Futures Programme for health services across the north east sector of Greater Manchester was to carry out a review of cardiology services.

"NCAT said: 'Cardiology services at Rochdale Infirmary attract strong local support but are an example of a locally driven approach. Healthy Futures may need to review Cardiology services at Rochdale Infirmary against the wider needs of the Trust population bearing in mind recent developments in intervention, the dependency on critical care support.'

"Sir Jonathan Asbridge, Programme Director for Healthy Futures, announced on 2 December 2010 that he had invited Professor Roger Boyle CBE, National Director for Heart Disease and Stroke to review cardiology services across the Pennine Acute footprint.

"Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust recognises that technology has moved on since the original Healthy Futures report was prepared. We will contribute to Professor Boyle’s review and once he has completed his report, Healthy Futures will publicly share his recommendation.”

Reacting to the Trust’s response, Councillor Ashworth, said: “It is shameful that they cannot give an honest or a direct response to a question.

“They obviously haven’t got an answer.

“I will be asking these questions again at the Health Overview and Scrutiny and I expect an answer to the question when it is put before them.”

Councillor Ashworth continued: “I am really disappointed, Jonathan Asbridge states clearly that this would come back to the Health Overview and Scrutiny and it clearly hasn’t – in my opinion it is wrong. I think it is wrong to keep changing these things.

“It hasn’t been anywhere. They can’t keep changing the goal posts.

“They are leaving this borough unsafe.”

Councillor Ashworth concluded: “I have sent this on to Andrew Lansley, that is how strongly I feel about this. I feel we have been cheated, again.”