Doctors condemn heart care move

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Senior members of staff have put their names to the letter

More than 100 doctors and consultants have voiced their fears over the future of Ipswich Hospital and the loss of specialist services.

This week it was announced that specialist heart attack treatment for people in east Suffolk will now be provided at Papworth in Cambridge.

Consultants have written an open letter to the media expressing a "lack of confidence" in the decision making.

The NHS said it was impossible for all hospitals to provide all specialists.

A spokeswoman for East of England NHS said only Basildon Hospital, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Papworth Hospital provided specialist treatment for severe heart attacks.

We have become increasingly concerned at the current and future plans for gradual loss of specialist services from this hospital Letter from doctors and consultants

She said the NHS was extremely supportive of Ipswich Hospital, which she said had a "robust future".

Richard Watts, chairman of the medical staff committee, wrote the letter on behalf of the consultant medical staff at Ipswich Hospital.

The letter said: "We have become increasingly concerned at the current and future plans for gradual loss of specialist services from this hospital.

'Lack of confidence'

"We would like to express our growing lack of confidence in the decision-making processes."

The letter expresses the commitment of staff to the hospital.

Responding to the criticism, NHS East said in a statement: "NHS Suffolk and NHS East of England are delighted that senior clinicians of Ipswich Hospital are supportive of their local hospital and the services.

"This is as it should be - local clinicians dedicated and passionate about providing the best possible care and services they can.

"NHS Suffolk is also planning to invest in other services this year - such as maternity, reducing the time people wait for treatment, cancer services and health promotion services."