CONSERVATIVES FIGHT FOR STROKE PROVISION SERVICES FOR EALING RESIDENTS

Ealing's Conservative Council has expressed deep concern at the potential ending of the stroke service available at Ealing Hospital, and promised to ensure any decision is fully scrutinised. It is considered likely that Ealing Hospital's stroke unit will go once the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) has finished its current review of the provision and location of stroke services across London.

Cllr Ian Gibb, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Ealing North said, "Given that strokes are the third biggest killer in the UK after heart attacks and cancer, this decision does need to be looked at carefully.  The Government is running a huge advertising campaign urging people to recognise the symptoms of a stoke and then act fast.  Removing local services does seem to contradict that message.''

Cabinet member for Adult Services and Health, Cllr Mark Reen said he was worried about the impact of such a decision on Ealing residents, and has asked Chairman of the Council’s Health Scrutiny Panelto examine the proposals in detail. He said:

"I am very concerned about the impact of cutting Ealing hospital’s stroke service on residents across the Borough, especially in central Ealing and Southall. The proposals have obviously been given great thought by the health professionals involved, but there are a number of issues that need in my view to be examined by elected members if the residents of Ealing are to have confidence about the provision of stroke services locally.''

Cllr Reen said he would ask Scrutiny to assess the proposals in detail, in particular asking the following questions:

What is the clinical evidence that supports the decision to remove stroke services from Ealing Hospital and what practical impact will the new pathways have on the provision of non-acute, acute and hyper-acute stroke services in the Central Ealing and Southall Area for ordinary residents?

How is it that Ealing Hospital has not been able to pass the criteria designed by London NHS for inclusion in the new stroke pathways?

What, if any, implication will the removal of stroke service provision have on the longer term position of Ealing Hospital?