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Public supports Option A to keep full A&E service at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

30 November 2012

More than 80% of people responding to the Shaping a Healthier Future public consultation about proposed changes to NHS services in North West London have supported Option A to designate Chelsea and Westminster as a major hospital with a full A&E service.

Photo: A&E staff hold postcards from the ‘Safe in our hands’ campaign to keep A&E at Chelsea and Westminster

More than 80% of people responding to the Shaping a Healthier Future public consultation about proposed changes to NHS services in North West London have supported Option A to designate Chelsea and Westminster as a major hospital with a full A&E service.

More than 80% of people responding to the Shaping a Healthier Future public consultation about proposed changes to NHS services in North West London have supported Option A to designate Chelsea and Westminster as a major hospital with a full A&E service.

Ipsos MORI announced the results of the consultation, which took place from July to October this year, at a public meeting last night (Wednesday 28 November).

According to their analysis of the public consultation results, 83% of respondents supported Option A which proposes there should be five major hospitals in North West London—including Chelsea and Westminster.

More than 11,000 people completed a postcard to register their support for the ‘Safe in our hands’ campaign which was run by Chelsea andWestminster during the public consultation to encourage patients, local residents and staff to vote for Option A.

More than 6,500 people also signed an online petition in support of Option A which was set up by Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust Governors—elected representatives of patients, members of the public and staff.

Tony Bell, Chief Executive of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, says: “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported the ‘Safe in our hands’ campaign to keep A&E at Chelsea and Westminster.

“The number of patients, local residents and staff who got involved in the campaign, and the important role played by our elected Governors, demonstrates how much Chelsea and Westminster Hospital means to the people who rely on our services.

“The results of the Shaping a Healthier Future public consultation demonstrate that their voice was heard and made a real difference to the outcome of the consultation.”

Final recommendations put forward by NHS North West London are expected to be considered in February 2013.

The full Ipsos MORI report on the public consultation results is available online at www.healthiernorthwestlondon.nhs.uk.