The Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, confirmed to the Commons today that the A&E Department at Lewisham Hospital will be downgraded as part of cost-cutting measures within the South East London sector of the NHS. Furthermore the maternity unit at Lewisham is to be replaced with a midwife-led facility. You can find more on this at www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21269910
Mr. Hunt only parted from the Special Administrator, Matthew Kershaw's recommendations in one respect, by deciding that up to threequarters of those currently attending Lewisham A&E would (he said) continue to attend a new, smaller service at the Hospital, with only patients with more serious conditions taken to other hospitals. It remains to be seen, of course, what happens in practice!
