Last week it emerged that the Department of Health plans a wave ofclosures of hospital services during the next 12 months in emergencydepartments, paediatrics and maternity services.
David Nicholson, the new chief executive of the NHS, said children andnew mothers would be best served by concentrating services and creatinglarge, 24-hour consultant-led departments in fewer hospitals.
Critics have put the plans down to the NHS's financial problems. Butdoctors and staff in areas where services are already being reorganisedsay children will benefit from an increased pool of specialistexpertise. Dr Simon Lenton, vice president for health services at theRoyal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, cautiously welcomed theplans. The move was part of an overall strategy to improve the qualityof children's services, he said, which could help combat reduced workinghours for doctors.
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