Why we need to become more active.
Would you believe that at a hustings event in Queens Park for the Hampstead and Kilburn Constituency (which covers part of Brent) on 9 April none of the 4 candidates present knew about the 2012 NHS NW London plan for reorganising hospitals and closing 4 A&E Departments called Shaping a Healthier Future? They did not know that Central Middlesex A&E closed last September. One candidate thought that Shaping was a personal fitness plan.
At one level this is a criticism of the poor communication efforts of the NHS in NW London, of which Brent CCG is a key part.
Concern about the way the Shaping a Healthier Future plans are being implemented, contrary to promises made in 2012, has caused 4 NW London boroughs, including Brent, to set up what is known as the Mansfield enquiry or the NW London Healthcare Commission.
The enquiry, led by Michael Mansfield QC and assisted by expert assessors, has been prompted by poor to very poor A&E performance in some hospitals and severe delays in providing new community care facilities which were meant to be in place before acute hospitals were run down.
Over 120 submissions of evidence have been received by the enquiry. This includes a substantial document from the Patient Participation Group (PPG) Chairs which has been endorsed by BPV and can be found here on our website.
There will be an oral hearing of witnesses who have sent in evidence by the enquiry team at Brent Civic Centre from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Saturday 9th May.
This is open to the public. It will be an opportunity to hear what the authorities and the critics have to say about local successes and failures before the Commission write their report.