THE possible closure of the Royal Surrey County Hospital will result in a "significant increase" in ambulance waiting times, according to a survey released this week. Senior Surrey ambulance personnel fear lives will be put at risk if the hospital is closed and have warned of lengthy waiting times as part of an anonymous survey conducted by the Save the Royal Surrey Campaign. For a seriously ill patient, the time taken to reach a fully equipped A&E ward can be critical to their survival chances. Those living in Cranleigh or Haslemere would wait twice as long, according to the survey's findings, while those in Guildford could wait up to four times longer. William Winton received emergency treatment at the Royal Surrey following a major road traffic accident on the A3 in October 2006. He said: "If it wasn't for the Royal Surrey my prospects would have been far worse. Thanks to the amazing job of the medics at the hospital, my serious injuries have not ruined my life as they could so easily have. If these damaging cuts go ahead, others in my situation might not be so lucky." Professor Chris Marks, chairman of the Save the Royal Surrey Campaign, is glad that those in the emergency services are worried about the "misguided" cuts to the NHS. "These new figures reveal the significant impact that the closure of the Royal Surrey would have on blue-light travel times. People working in the emergency services are deeply worried about the impact closure could have on those with life-threatening conditions - and so they should be. "As a doctor I know only too well that getting people to hospital quickly is vital. These cuts are misguided and could put patients' lives at risk." He went on to outline the problems which could face residents of Farnham, saying that it would impact on the town because if the Royal Surrey is closed, then Frimley Park Hospital - Farnham's nearest A&E department - would fill up. "At the moment the ambulance service couldn't cope if they all had to go to just one hospital." Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey and an avid supporter of the movement to save the Royal Surrey from closure, echoed comments made by Proffesor Marks. "The real issue here for people living in Farnham is that if the Royal Surrey closes it will create massive extra pressure on Frimley Park. It would have to deal with a huge increase in the volume of people who would otherwise have gone to the Royal Surrey." Further information on the Save the Royal Surrey Campaign can be found at http://www.savetheroyalsurrey.org.uk">www.savetheroyalsurrey.org.uk.
