Reasons to attend the Surrey Downs GP commissioning group, to be held on 17th May at Epsom Racecourse, where the decision whether to support the BSBV review proposal to remove Epsom maternity, children's ward and A&E, will be taken:

1. Lack of evidence.

The children's lead doctor at Bourne Hall public meeting claimed many lives could be saved but when challenged couldn't give any figures for Epsom or for other hospitals in the review! In the document BSBV issued this week maternal deaths are again given as a reason for the changes. The South London Commissioning Support unit admitted THEY DON'T HAVE THE FIGURES (We have this in reply to a freedom of information request).

2. Epsom's excellent safety record for maternity, children’s and other services.

We have figures showing Epsom's maternity and children's department is amongst the safest in Surrey, which is the safest in the country. Epsom passed a recent Royal College inspection. Epsom Hospital came second in a recent assessment of 32 London hospitals' acute services.

Epsom's children's doctors also care for children in the community. We would lose these doctors if they were made to work at London hospitals.

3. Time it would take to travel to other maternity or children's units in emergencies.

We have met parents in Ashtead whose son nearly died from an acute asthma attack while waiting for an ambulance. His mother now puts him straight in a car and comes to A and E. Severely ill children need a children's doctor close enough to save their life.

We have heard of a parent who drove the paramedic's ambulance under blue lights to A&E while the paramedic helped the baby- there wasn't time to wait for an ambulance!

We have met many mothers who have said their babies would have been born on the journey if they hadn't had Epsom available. This is not safe, as babies or mothers may need help.

4. Worries over midwife stand-alone units.

Recent studies think these are safe for low risk mothers and the BSBV review has surveyed mothers to ask for their views.

However, the same studies say four out of 10 mothers of first babies will need to be transferred to a maternity unit, which has doctors. Would they get there in time?

We can have the new midwife led unit that is due to open at Epsom so mothers can enjoy a natural birth, but we need access to the doctors at Epsom who can do Caesarian sections when the baby or mother is in danger.

5 A&E support.

We need senior doctors who can stabilise patients and save their life in an emergency. Patients may need to be moved later but we need more than an urgent care unit with GPs. Do we find urgent care from GPs satisfactory at the moment?

Do please come to the meeting on 17th. Children are very welcome as it shows you support these services at Epsom.

Jane Race
Epsom Hospital Campaign