Closure of endoscopy services at Wisbech hospital paused

The move comes after MP Steve Barclay raised concerns over the loss of the service without consultation.

The former Health Secretary, and MP for North East Cambridgeshire, flagged the issue after both NHS staff and patients contacted him with deep concerns that the endoscopy services being cut.

Mr Barclay, who has previously raised concerns over the erosion of services at both the North Cambs and Doddington Hospitals, said there was no notification from Jan Thomas, the chief executive of the NHS Integrated Commissioning Board, which is responsible for funding this service, despite repeated requests for information.

However, Mr Barclay said he has now heard from the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, which made the decision along with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust over the lack of any consultation on the closure of the services.

Mr Barclay said their plans for the future delivery of endoscopy services are now being paused.

"They say this pause will allow additional time to review the service properly and ensure that any decisions taken are based on ‘what is genuinely in the best interests of patients’," he said.

Mr Barclay continued: "I have also been told that this work will be carried out in partnership with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board, and with other providers who operate on the North Cambs site.

"None of this had previously been done before the announcement made to staff, so it is welcome that this change is now being made.

"The NHS tell me that North Cambridgeshire Hospital remains ‘a strategically important location’. Yet their actions so far suggest the opposite.

"So I welcome this change of tone, but they clearly need to better address the disconnect between this positive assurance and the ongoing reduction of services.

"If the assurance that North Cambs is strategically important is to be meaningful, it needs to start with much more transparency on what service changes have been made.

"This includes publishing clearly the number of patients receiving each of the current services at North Cambs and Doddington, so we have an effective baseline against which to judge any changes.

"It is all very well saying, as they now tell me, that they are reviewing service delivery using ‘evidence-based information’.

"But if they cannot share core data with me as the local MP and a former Secretary of State for Health, nor share it with local councillors, health charities, or residents, including those who are patients using these services, then the phrase evidence-based is not itself evidenced.

"So the current state of play is that the cuts to endoscopy services are paused, which is welcome news.

"Health bosses say they will now discuss this with me directly. I hope residents (and any staff working at North Cambs and Doddington) will raise any points they have with both me and local councillors so we can follow up.

"I know from Cllr Steve Tierney and Cllr Sam Hoy say that they are also raising their concerns, and I am grateful that members of Wisbech Town Council are also asking questions on this. I will keep you informed as this develops."