We make your views heard on the future of A & E
Mar 16 2007 By Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail
THEY are YOUR views and concerns and the Birmingham Mail is making sure they are heard.
We handed over all your letters and articles on the planned shake-up of City A&E, children's and surgical services to analysts compiling a report on the public consultation.
Quad Research, based at Warwick University, in Coventry, will look at views recorded during the three month consultation to make an independent report to bosses of Sandwell and West Birmingham Trust on the level of support for plans.
Researchers will also make recommendations on whether trust bosses should go ahead with the controversial project.
So, the Birmingham Mail took readers concerns, including letters and e-mails, covered in the A&E Big Debate over to Quad at the close of the public consultation yesterday(thurs).
Susan Goodlad, from Quad, said: "We are happy to accept the articles and letters from the Birmingham Mail.
"We will look at them, along with everything else, to see if they add anything to our report."
Quad will sift through thousands of responses to the trust's interim plans to no longer carry out emergency surgery at City A&E on patients coming in by ambulance, but transferring them to Sandwell Hospital, in West Bromwich, instead.
The proposals also include closing a children's overnight ward at City and replacing it with a 24 hour assessment ward. The beds will be moved to Sandwell, which will have the only unit for any children who need to stay in hospital overnight.
Baby wards across the two hospitals are to be merged and all routine surgery to be carried out at City only under the plans.
Quad will spend the next six weeks compiling its report before sending it to the relevant health trusts affecting by the changes.
John Adler, chief executive of Sandwell and West Birmingham Trust, said: "The results of the consultation will be presented to the May meeting of the trust board.
"This meeting is open to the public and takes place at the Anne Gibson Board Room at City Hospital on May 10.
"In making its decision the trust, will respond to comments and concerns raised during the process."
