Study could support Rochdale couple's battle to save A&E

Reporter: Jan Harwood
Date online: 21/08/2007

A study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal could be used in the battle to save Rochdale Infirmary's Accident and Emergency services. Research states that the further a seriously ill patient has to travel by ambulance to reach a hospital's emergency ward the more likely they are to die. A Rochdale couple recently went to court to try and save Rochdale A&E services and their solicitor has claimed that this research vindicates their court battle.

David amp; Lisa-Louise Fitton went to the Royal Courts of Justice in London in June this year to try and keep A&E open at Rochdale Infirmary. They declared that without Rochdale A&E, the closest service to their Smallbridge home, their son Jordan-Lee's life would be in severe danger as he would have to travel to a hospital further away.

The Fittons came unstuck when their appeal for a judicial review of the decision to downgrade Rochdale Infirmary A&E services was turned down.

Jordan-Lee suffers fits due to a condition known as global development delay. He requires regular medical treatment and, when his body does not respond to the drugs he is forced to take, he needs urgent hospital treatment. The Fitton's believe that that treatment will not come urgently enough if they have to travel to another hospital, which could mean a journey time of up to half an hour.

The study by Sheffield University researchers found that the risk of death for people who are unconscious, not breathing or have chest pain rose by 1% for every 10km (6.2 miles) travelled. They have claimed that their conclusions vindicate the need for a re-think by the government over plans to downgrade A&E services across the country.

The study's authors concluded: "Our data suggests that any changes that may increase journey distances to hospital for all emergency patients may lead to an increase in mortality for a small number of patients with life-threatening medical emergencies, unless care is improved as a result of the organisation."

The Fitton's solicitor, Richard Scorer said on BBC Radio Manchester today, Tuesday 21 August, that the research supports what his clients said in court. He said: "This report is very important because it vindicates the arguments we were making to the court about the risks posed to Jordan Fitton."

"We will be arguing strongly that this report needs to be taken into account by the government in making decisions about these closures."

Responding to the research, shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "This is exactly the kind of evidence we need to determine access to accident and emergency services.

"It undermines the Government's claim that closures are determined on a clinical basis, when in reality they are being driven by deficits and pressures from the European Working Time Directive."

However, the research has already been undermined by the Government's director for primary care. Dr Colin Thome has claimed that the study is irrelevant and outdated as it did not take into account improvements made in ambulance care in recent years.