Patients 'kept in dark' over rehab unit move

- 12 July 2007

BARLEY Court Day Hospital users are criticising plans to relocate services to King George Hospital, and say they should have been consulted first.

Lorraine Silver, a member of the King George Hospital Rheumatology Support Group which meets at the rehabilitation facility, said she was alarmed to learn from staff that the building was closing.

The news had made her fear the services were quietly being moved to Queen's Hospital as part of the Fit for the Future review of King George, she said.

The review has sparked widespread community concern.

The Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust said services would be moved in November from Barley Court, which is adjacent to King George Hospital, to the main hospital site on Barley Lane, Goodmayes.

But a spokesman said the changes were not part of the Fit for the Future review of health services.

He added: "All of the facilities and services are being centralised on the main King George Hospital site, which will improve the delivery of care as they will be much closer to other acute services."

The decision was made several months ago, and had been under discussion for more than a year, the spokesman said.

Staff had been told, and were being included in talks about where services should go.

But Mrs Silver said those using Barley Court should have been given some input into the decision.

Barley Court had close parking available for patients, who might have difficulties getting a space near the entrance to King George, she said.

"Is it going to be more difficult for the people who are using Barley Court? Are they going to have to park further away? There are different factors to build into it.

"You have got to involve patients in their care. It's common sense."

Support group chairman Diane Wynne-Fitzgerald said: "This happens quite a lot in the NHS that people - particularly those that use the facilities and the medics - don't know anything until changes are made.

"Communication makes so much difference."

The North East London Mental Health Trust chief operating officer Stephanie Dawe said it was still looking at its options for the building, once the day hospital moved out.

MP FEARS COVER-UP AT HOSPITAL: See this week's Recorder