GPs
in Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead and Elmbridge
have voted overwhelmingly against the Better Services Better Value
proposals to remove acute services from Epsom Hospital. An even larger
proportion said they wanted
the future of Epsom Hospital decided in a Surrey context and not part
of a London review.
The
secret ballot, instigated by local MPs Chris Grayling, Sir Paul
Beresford, Dominic Raab and Crispin Blunt, was sent to all GPs
practicing in the new Surrey Downs commissioning area, and the result
was independently counted and verified
by the Returning Officer at Mole Valley District Council.
The
new Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group and the Better Services
Better Value review team had previously said that local GPs were behind
the scheme. But doctors voted by two to one against the plans for Epsom
hospital to be
downgraded and by more than four to one in favour of decisions about
Epsom being taken in a Surrey context.
Chris Grayling said:
"We
organised this ballot because we did not believe that local doctors
really agreed with what is going on, and the result clearly shows that
we were right. This vote was carried out in secret, was independently
verified, and it shows
that the controversial plans for Epsom are not just opposed by the
public but by the doctors as well. I think this result marks the death
knell of Better Services Better Value, and I hope that all involved will
now call a halt and stop wasting public money
on a review that, in the context of Epsom and Surrey, has never added
up."
The questions to the GP's and voting results were:
Are you in favour of the BSBV proposals to remove A & E and Maternity Services from Epsom Hospital?
Yes 32%
No 68%
Would
you support a separate process to consider the future of Epsom Hospital
as part of the Surrey and not SW London health economy?
Yes 82%
No 18%
Posts
The accuracy of this report is being looked into as it seems the questionnaire could be biased. We do not know how many GP/ practices were asked to take part in this ballot - it is already being questioned by Dr. Claire Fullerton, we do not know how many GPs actually voted in this "secret" ballot, so as usual an emotional report by the local press and our MPs. At the moment there is no alternative to the BSBV proposals and until this happens both staff and patients are in limbo - so please get on and prevent our hospital from falling apart!
ReplyDeleteTurnout was 50%
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