New report highlights concerns over Cumbrian health cuts

Independent researcher Nina Wilson, of Whitehaven, was so concerned at the lack of detail in the Success Regime proposals that she decided to compile her own viability and impact assessment.

Ms Wilson has spent the past three months looking in detail at the impact plans to downgrade services and close beds would have.

Her report, published today, flags up a wide range of issues she does not believe have been properly addressed by bosses.

They include long journey times, poor road conditions, lack of public transport, the medical and psychological effects on patients and families, impact on recruitment and long term effects for business.

Her report comes as Prime Minister Theresa May officially declined an invitation to visit west Cumbria with her Cabinet.

Copeland MP Jamie Reed made the calls after his request for more Government funding for the local NHS, schools and infrastructure were overlooked in last week's Autumn Statement.

He subsequently issued a formal Parliamentary Question, inviting senior ministers to visit west Cumbria, to see for themselves the challenges being faced, and the need for cross-departmental working.

However he has now received a response directly from Mrs May, stating: "There are no current plans to do so."

Mr Reed said: “I am disappointed. I had hoped that the Prime Minister would have looked favourably upon the invitation, which would have seen Government visit my constituency to see for itself our considerable need for support, our unparalleled potential, and to understand the need for joined up working. Theresa May should get a map, find Cumbria and recognise how her government is failing the entire county."

The snub comes as Ms Wilson's report highlights some of the main concerns for communities affected by health reforms, drawn up by the Government-appointed Success Regime.

Transport is one of the main areas, with patients - including mums in labour, children and stroke patients - facing lengthy, high-risk ambulance transfers between Whitehaven and Carlisle along the A595.

The report, which has analysed in detail the travel times, condition of roads, frequency of accidents, and disruption caused by bad weather, states: "The Success Regime's consultation document states that the additional journey time for patients from West Cumbria to Carlisle would be an 'average additional journey time of 45 to 48 minutes'.

"They provide no basis for this statement. It appears that they have seen Whitehaven and Workington as being the centre of the area and taken the Google direction time from Workington and Whitehaven as being representative and calling it an 'average'.

"This is the minimum additional time from Whitehaven and Workington. The actual journey times, considering traffic, weather, night-time are likely to be longer. It should also be noted that in times of extreme weather, many routes tend to be blocked, not just one."

Health bosses have frequently compared plans to move consultant-led maternity to Carlisle with a similar proposal in Wales. But Ms Wilson has analysed the roads and accident rates and say they vary considerably.

Her report also highlights the impact of long journeys for those visiting relatives, many of who are elderly and rely on limited public transport.

It adds that being so far from friends and relatives also has psychological effects for patients, including families with young children. This would also be the case for elderly patients affected by community hospital bed closures, who may end up far from home.

She adds: "There will be an immense strain on families trying to visit which could adversely affect both the patient and family and result in more medical care being needed."

As part of her research, Ms Wilson carried out a detailed survey of mothers to look for trends. She concluded that there will be an increased risk of mums giving birth in transit, which could have serious health implications for both mother and baby, including death.

ROADS

*The A595: Numerous sections of the road are prone to flooding and surface water. Drains are often blocked, meaning there is a problem with surface water with even moderate rain. Very little of the road has street lighting. Mobile phone coverage on the whole route is patchy, with many sections having no coverage.

*There are few sections where the ambulances can overtake vehicles even with blues and twos. Also, there are long sections where there is no space for vehicles to pull over to let an ambulance past.

*Both the A595 and A596 are prone to accidents, with even a minor accident likely to completely block the road. If blocked, there are few other options - small country lanes, even more likely to be flooded, under snow or blocked by fallen trees in bad weather.

*Whilst Google puts the time from West Cumberland Hospital to Cumberland Infirmary at 48 minutes with no traffic, this is a theoretical time and regular drivers put the time closer to one hour, exceeding that regularly. North West Ambulance Service have stated that the bed to bed transfer time is 1 hour 40 minutes.

*Outlying areas: the journey time, with no traffic, to West Cumberland Hospital from Wasdale Head is 41 minutes and from the Woolpack in Eskdale is 56 minutes.

FLOODS

*During the December 2015 floods it was impossible to reach Cumberland Infirmary from west Cumbria. Many hospital staff also could not get to work prompting a public appeal for all off-duty staff. These staffing problems lasted for some days. In addition the local electricity supply failed due to the flooding and the hospital had to rely on back-up generators for days. West Cumberland Hospital is on high ground and has never been directly affected by flooding.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Buses from Whitehaven to Carlisle are infrequent and the journey takes about 1 hour 50 minutes. There is a walk of 0.4 miles to the hospital entrance. The train is a quicker journey to Carlisle but the time and difficulty getting across the city centre reduces much of the benefit. A taxi from the station to the hospital will cost £5 to £6.

IMPACT ON AMBULANCES

*There is a limit to the extent to which they can treat and monitor a patient whilst the ambulance is moving and it is not safe to pull over on large stretches of the road.

*If they have a midwife or other specialist on board that person will have to stay with the patient for a time at Cumberland Infirmary. So either the ambulance waits, meaning that it is not available for longer, or the specialist is left there.

*There have been comparisons to the system operating in Wales. However, whilst the general area has some similarities, the road does not. The road is wider than most of the A595, it is largely flat and the few bends are gradual. There are many sections where there is an overtaking lane. The last 10 miles is a dual carriageway.

*The extra strain on the ambulance service will not only require recruiting more paramedics, but will make recruitment harder as paramedics will be under great pressure having to keep patients alive for much longer until they reach hospital.

PREGNANT WOMEN

*The prime time for women reaching the point of active labour is the few hours before dawn. This means women being driven to hospital will largely be having to travel in the dark. For people to have to drive so far, on bad roads with a loved one in pain or other distress, the driver will also become very stressed and therefore more likely to have an accident.

*For a pregnant woman with a condition such as pre-eclampsia or placenta previa which may need a stay in hospital for some time. There would be considerable stress if that means that she is separated from young children with only very occasional visits.

VISITORS

*The majority of families with cars will need around two hours extra travel time for each visit. The problems become greater when the visitors rely on public transport. Not only is the journey time longer and cost greater, but it will often mean getting more than one vehicle, waiting in the cold and rain, walking between different vehicles and the hospital.

*The extra travel will put a huge financial strain on families, as well as being a strain on their health. They will also have to depend on other people to care for children who can't visit.

*The long journey times make it less likely that patients will get two visits a day, or that they will get visits from anyone other than the closest of friends or family. For the elderly and for children this will be particularly stressful and may impede their recovery.

*The News & Star has launched a campaign opposing the Success Regime plans. Sign our save Our Services petition here or download a paper copy here .