Joint Statement re. King George Hospital
The A&E unit at King George Hospital
For the past three months we have been examining what Queen’s Hospital in Romford and King George Hospital in Ilford will look like in the future as part of developing a new clinical strategy. This is an exciting opportunity for us to think creatively about how we provide the best possible services for local people across the NHS while also recognising the key role of our partners, including our councils. We want to make sure we are thinking about solutions which will stand the test of time. We accept that more change is inevitable, and rightly so.
We will share our initial ideas with our staff, local people, communities, partners and stakeholders to test our thinking and shape the final clinical strategy.
We must remain open and flexible to a range of solutions and options to make the right decisions for the people we serve. However, throughout this process we have been clear that the Emergency Department at King George Hospital (KGH) is safe and that there is a need for such provision both now and into the future.
The A&E at KGH will continue to be a consultant-led service, open 24 hours a day, with full resuscitation facilities and designated accommodation for the reception of accident and emergency patients (currently known as a Type 1 A&E department). We have never suggested otherwise.
We are concerned that ongoing false rumours about the future of the A&E unit at King George Hospital could have an adverse impact on our efforts to recruit and retain vital frontline staff and will worry our residents unnecessarily.
Chris Bown Interim Chief Executive.
