THE CONTROVERSIAL plan to transfer all emergency services from Ashford Hospital to St Peters, leaving residents in the west of the borough with a much longer journey for emergency medical help seems to be on the brink of being finalised, after Hounslow's Primary Care Trust agreed to the measures this week.

Hounslow PCT followed Spelthorne PCT's decision last week to support the so-called option 3B', which allows for the transfer of all emergency services to St Peter's Hospital whilst maintaining only planned care at Ashford Hospital.

The final decision will now be made at North Surrey PCT's Board meeting on March 15, though campaigners, who had hoped to keep emergency services at Ashford, say they think it's all over.

While disappointed at the result, some have welcomed the provisos put forward by Hounslow PCT.

The PCT is calling on the Ashford and St Peter's Hospital Trust to work with them and others to resolve transport issues and improve access to both hospitals, examine the feasibility of a midwife-led unit at Ashford Hospital, re-examine a proposal to move a children's day surgery to St Peter's and to work closely with West Middlesex University Hospital and Hounslow PCT to develop co-ordinated services for the people of Feltham.

As part of option 3B, some additional services will be developed at Ashford Hospital, including a walk in service, where urgent treatment is provided by Emergency Nurse Practitioners (ENPs), for patients with non-life threatening conditions, open daily from 7am-10pm.

A recent study showed that 70 per cent of patients attending Ashford were minor injury cases which ENPs could treat.

The ENPs have access to support and advice from the A & E unit at St Peter's. Cases requiring more specialised treatment are transferred to A & E or potentially to a new medical Assessment and Treatment Centre.

Campaigner John Murphy said: "It looks like it's all over - however, at least they have put in a number of safeguards.

"There are some good things to come out of this consultation - at least now all the key players, like the ambulance crews, hospital staff and the PCT, are talking together, which they weren't before.

"Hounslow PCT is still pushing to keep children's services at Ashford and is pressing for a mid-wife led maternity unit, both of which are also promising.

"The biggest issue is to make sure everybody is informed - it would be awful if people went into Ashford suffering a heart attack, and then realised it was the wrong one for emergency care.

"It is still a blow about the emergency services, but these consultations are rarely swayed by people's views, no matter how many people respond."

However, John James, Chief Executive of Hounslow PCT, said that the consultation process had been extremely thorough: "The view of the PCT is that the option we have gone for will lead to improved services for the people served by Hounslow, Woking Area and North Surrey PCTs."