Chase Farm hospital head warns that "correct terminology" to be used, 12 hour consultant led department from 2013

News Desk

The increasingly bitter war that is being fought in the Enfield North constituency, has today taken on a new momentum with the incumbent MP Joan Ryan being warned by the Chief Executive of Enfield Primary Care Trust Nigel Beverly, to use the "correct terminology" when discussing the future of Chase Farm Hospital.

In a flyer sent out by the Labour party in Enfield North (pictured), Ryan clearly states that:

"We've saved Chase Hospital including a 24-hour doctor led local A&E providing urgent care".

In fact according to the head of the Enfield Health Trust the reality is:

"A 12-hour consultant-led Urgent Care Centre, with diagnostics, a paediatric assessment unit and an elderly assessment unit, all staffed by specialist doctors and nurses".

Nigel Beverley then goes onto to clarify that after 2013 Chase Farm will have:

"an integrated 24 hour doctor led primary care service which will deliver urgent care".

This does not mean a fully staffed A&E department will operate under the new regime at Chase Farm. Enfield Primary Care Trust is currently running a shortfall with an annual budget of £450m, running a loss of £17.5m. The new plans will mean Chase Farm hospital's A&E department will have a consultant-led "urgent care centre" that will not take blue light ambulances and is open only 12 hours a day.

Nick de Bois, Conservative candidate for Enfield North said, "At a time when trust in politicians is so low, it is a great shame Joan Ryan has chosen to play word games over Chase Farm Hospital. We need honesty over Chase Farm, and Joan Ryan has been less than honest".