HEALTH chiefs ratified the immediate future of the Royal Surrey County Hospital's accident and emergency department this week, ending 12 months of insecurity and a hard-fought public campaign. On Tuesday, board members of the Primary Care Trust praised their current position, with a series of improvements - contrary to the cuts once feared - set to roll out in hospitals across Surrey next year. Outlined within the 'Fit for the Future' consultation is the PCT's commitment to improving services across the county, and the retaining of services at the Royal Surrey. The news was a welcome tonic to the many vocal opponents of plans to remove A&E facilities, among them Chris Marks, chairman of the Save the Royal Surrey Campaign. "The publication of these documents represents a significant victory for the campaign but is by no means the end of the road," he said. "We must remain vigilant and react to any new threat to taking away services without the consent of the people. I believe that the political case for closing district hospitals is receding but that doesn't mean they are safe from future cuts or closures," he said. And Mr Marks expressed his "heartfelt thanks" to the many supporters of the campaign, 8,000 of whom duly attended a public rally and the 120,000 people who signed the Surrey Petition. "I have been amazed at the strength of local feeling which shows just how important it is to retain our much loved local hospital," he said. "The campaign has received backing from all major local political parties, the Chamber of Commerce and the council during the fight to save the hospital from cuts or closure. "We have been fortunate to receive the full and unified backing of all local political parties, as well as wider organisations like local businesses and the university." While the publication of the business case for safeguarding services marks the latest victory for retaining major facilities at the site including maternity, paediatrics and accident and emergency, it is not clear whether there will be a public consultation on limited changes to health services in the county as originally promised by the PCT. But for the moment, campaigners are celebrating, with Guildford's MP Anne Milton citing the news as good reason to "crack open the Champagne". "This is a victory for common sense and local pressure," she said, before adding, "Although this is the news we were expecting, we will use all our expertise to ensure we continue to improve and secure services at the Royal Surrey. "And first on that list must be to get foundation status for the hospital." South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt also praised the actions of campaigners, before warning that further work will be needed in the future. "The announcement from the PCT is hugely significant because it shows that despite huge determination on behalf of health bosses they have finally been forced to cave into massive local pressure," he said. "The thing that is hugely important is that none of the consultation options published by the PCT included either the closing of the Royal Surrey or the downgrading of the A&E department. And what that means is that people can rest assured that they're not going to have to not drive long distances in an emergency. "The Royal Surrey is saved, but of course, we can never be complacent. We know that in the long run they would still like to try and merge the Royal Surrey with Frimley Park and St Peter's in Chertsey. "We will have to be very vigilant than any merger that happens doesn't involve a reduction in services." And Mr Hunt concurred with his Conservative colleague that foundation status was the way to secure the long-term future of the Royal Surrey. "This would effectively mean that it's an independent hospital within the NHS, and Chris Marks, Anne Milton and myself are now putting together plans to see how we can secure foundation status." The 67-page Fit for the Future document details the planned changes across Surrey, with a county- wide revamp of cardiac, vascular, renal and stroke services. At Tuesday's board meeting, Surrey PCT's chief executive, Chris Butler, remarked: "I am delighted at the position we are now at, although I recognise we must not be complacent and still have work to do." Meanwhile, chairman of the board Douglas Robertson said he was delighted with the current position, before admitting: "If anything is certain, it is change in the health service."
