Sick babies refused care

11:51am Monday 23rd October 2006

MORE than 500 premature babies were refused treatment at one of London's principle hospitals last year, it has emerged.

The news comes as hundreds more job losses at south London hospitals were announced today.

In the past six months alone St George's hospital had to close its doors to premature babies 71 times, turning away hundreds of vulnerable new-borns, according to a report in the Observer newspaper yesterday.

The paper said the hospital did not have the necessary resources or space to cope with the demand, leaving mothers and sick infants to travel long distances to find a hospital bed.

It claims the hospital in Tooting, south-west London, has five cots standing empty because it cannot afford enough nurses to look after them.

Dr Sandy Calvert, consultant neonatologist at the unit, said staff felt powerless to help, adding: "It is very frustrating and it affects morale, if you feel you are turning away babies and they are not getting optimal care."

Responding today, premature baby charity Bliss said it was "unacceptable" that babies should be denied life saving services because of financial restraints.

Bliss Chief Executive Andy Cole, Chief Executive said: "Our research has identified that across the country at least three babies a day are having to be transferred an average distance of 126 miles away from their local unit."

Drastic cuts

With a deficit of £29 million this year - one of the biggest in the country - St George's is one of many hospitals being forced to make drastic cutbacks.

Geoff Martin, London Health Emergency Head of Campaigns, today attacked Prime Minister Tony Blair's attempts to "play down" the cuts which he said were coming down hard on premature baby units.

"The recruitment freeze is hitting real life or death services; it has hit premature baby care in south London and left five intensive care cots mothballed," Mr Martin said.

"NHS Trusts across the country are imposing blanket recruitment bans as they try and claw back more than a billion pounds worth of debt."

Today two neighbouring south London hospital trusts confirmed huge job cuts to reduce their deficits.

The Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust in south London and Surrey was expected to reveal this morning plans to axe 480 jobs and 208 beds as part of a £24 million cuts package.

The 208 beds - nearly a quarter of the trust's current capacity - will be slashed across the board raising fears that its two hospitals, Epsom and St Helier, will be unable to cope with patient demand this winter.

Kingston NHS Trust has also announced that it will shed 100 jobs before Christmas, including 20 compulsory redundancies.

Kevin O'Brien, UNISON Branch Secretary at Epsom and St Helier, said: "Staff are furious that their futures have been put on the line in order to bail out a financial crisis that is not of their making.

"We will be fighting these cuts and we are calling a massive demonstration on the morning of Saturday, November 25 to show the anger of both staff and the public at this assault on their local hospital services."