The consultation makes a well--argued case for a more limited number of specialist hospitals to which people with strokes should be taken direct for specialist treatment.The csse is also well-argued for a limited number of major trauma centres (e.g. car crashes). It is essential that with these major traumas, the hospital has on-site all the specialities, for example eye surgeons. I was persuaded that St Mary's, more remote than it is than Charing Cross, should be one of the 4 major trauma centres. I would want Charing Cross rather than Chelsea and Westminster (which must be a nightmare for an ambulance to reach in rush hour and even outside it), to carry on however for A&E other than stroke and major traumas, and people should respond to the consultation accordingly.May I declare an interest as having had 3 major operations in summer 2008 and a mini-stroke midway through of the kind that - mostly - clears in 48 or so hours. My treatment at Charing Cross Hospital was very good. It doesn't devalue however my view of how to respond to the consultation.It is notable that the leading person from almost every health authority in London backs the proposals.
Dan Filson ● 5836d