Freedom of Information Release Reveals Plan to Close Intensive Care Unit at Bassetlaw
John Mann has obtained new documents under the Freedom of Information Act that that reveal Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospital Trust real intent. He said "this is devastating information which exposes the true intent and direction of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospital Trust and shows that we have a real fight on our hands if we want to stop services leaching from Bassetlaw Hospital".
An email dated 12 August 2010 which sets out the criteria for the Maternity Review says:
"The clinical services review is at this stage proposing that much of the emergency work is centralised at Doncaster including a single ITU [Intensive Treatment Unit]. "
The email correspondence then asks for the report on maternity services to look at "the clinical sustainability of a maternity unit"... "given all the other changes to services".
They also suggest that someone from Calderdale should do the review because they have already set up a midwife-led unit in a very similar situation:
"In line with many Trusts the emerging proposals are to centralise much of the emergency work at Doncaster. At present both Doncaster and Bassetlaw sites have a Consultant led maternity unit and special care baby unit.
We are looking for a clinician who would be able to advise the GPs and the Trust on the most clinically sustainable obstetric model given all the other changes to services. I am aware that Calderdale and Huddersfield undertook a similar consultation and wondered whether there are any names of Consultants or indeed consultancies who you feel would be able to undertake this piece of work for us at some speed?"
In response, John Mann said "this reveals their strategy which was to find someone who could provide the answers they wanted".
John Mann has raised further concerns because the report was commissioned by Doncaster Primary Care Trust despite being published in the name of Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust. He is asking "why is a neighbouring Primary Care Trust overseeing the healthcare needs of Bassetlaw and why isn't Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust putting the health priorities of local residents first?".
08 February 2011
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