Sweeping review of surgery slated

Consultants fear that all emergency surgery will move to Southampton

Plans to radically change A&E services in Hampshire by centralising surgery provision, have raised concerns among senior medical staff, it is claimed.

Staff at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital believe their A&E department could be closed under plans to create a singe centralised surgery unit.

They claim most emergency and planned operations would be moved to Southampton General Hospital.

In a statement, the NHS said the plan would increase efficiency and cut cost.

'Disastrous effect'

Speaking to BBC South Today, a consultant at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, said: "If you move emergency surgery out of a hospital like Winchester, that could have a disastrous effect on other units, like accident and emergency, for instance.

"It would not be able to continue in its present form."

The consultant said many senior staff operating in the region were also concerned about the consequences of the Single Surgical Service Project.

Some staff fear that centralising surgery could reduce the need and role of surgical teams in outlying areas.

The project will be led by Mark Hackett, chief executive of the Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The NHS pledged to keep the public informed about the progress of the project, but said it was intended to ensure that patients received services "that comply with best clinical practice".

Staff at seven hospitals across mid and south west Hampshire received leaflets outlining the areas which will fall within the remit of the review including ear, nose and throat surgery, orthopaedics, urology and trauma surgery.

Health managers estimate the measures would be implemented in 2005 and 2006.