The unusual demonstration will see residents form a symbolic queue stretching from the Tuesday Market Place, representing the long waits already experienced by some patients and the additional journeys people fear could become necessary if services were moved elsewhere.
The event, organised by local campaigners, will take place between 11.30am and midday, with community representatives, politicians and residents expected to attend.
Organisers are asking people to bring a placard or piece of cardboard showing the town or village they travel from and how long it currently takes them to reach the QEH.
The idea is to demonstrate just how widely the hospital serves communities across West Norfolk and beyond.
Concerns over future services
The demonstration follows reports of leaked correspondence raising questions about the future provision of Accident and Emergency, maternity and intensive care services at the King’s Lynn hospital.
Campaigners are concerned that changes could mean some patients having to travel considerably further, potentially to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
For people living in coastal and rural communities, where journeys to hospital can already take some time, the possibility of travelling further for treatment has become a particular concern.
However, hospital leaders have said no decisions have been made about the future configuration of services.
Professor Lesley Dwyer, Chief Executive of the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group, has previously said that decisions about future services would need to consider clinical evidence and the needs of the population.
She has also stated that King’s Lynn would continue to have access to 24-hour emergency care, although questions remain about what form those services might take in the future.
Questions about consultation
Campaigners have also raised concerns about how local people are being involved in discussions over the future of hospital services.
They believe residents should have a greater opportunity to understand and comment on any proposals before decisions are taken.
There are also questions about how future population changes are being considered.
While an ageing population places increasing demands on health services, campaigners argue that planned housing development in and around King’s Lynn must also be taken into account when assessing future demand, particularly for maternity services.
The hospital serves a large geographical area, including communities where access to alternative hospitals can involve lengthy journeys.
Making the journey visible
Saturday’s event is intended to illustrate those distances in a simple but visual way.
By displaying where they live and how long it takes to reach the QEH, participants hope to demonstrate the practical implications that any significant changes to local hospital services could have for patients and families.
The gathering is scheduled to last just half an hour, from 11.30am until noon.
For those taking part, the central concern is ensuring that the needs of West Norfolk residents remain part of discussions about the future of their local hospital.
And while no final decisions have been announced, Saturday’s symbolic queue will give residents an opportunity to make their concerns visible.
