If you want results, it isn't so much what you do but how often you do it.

That was the message from one hospital consultant at the opening of the public consultation on plans to merge Barnet General with Chase Farm hospital in Enfield.

"If you are doing something more often, you can learn to do it better, more quickly and with less complications," said Colin Bunce, a consultant urologist at Barnet General at Monday's meeting at Southgate School in Sussex Way, Cockfosters.

"For example, if you are removing someone's bladder, to get really good at it you need ten or 12 cases a year.

"Most surgeons won't do three in a year. Most consultants acknowledge that enlarging hospitals is a good idea and the best figure is a population of 500,000."

Specialisation is the driving force behind the planned merger of the two hospitals, whose combined catchment area would approach the magic number of 500,000 people.

The received wisdom is that bigger catchments mean bigger departments with more patients so that staff become expert in a wider range of cases.

For example Mr Bunce's specialty of urology would be split into five sub-specialties with each consultant expected to be proficient in three of them.

He cited lack of surgical expertise as at least partially to blame for the deaths of 29 babies and leaving four others braindamaged in Bristol.

He added that a merged hospital would also be better at retaining specialist nursing staff.

Elizabeth Manero, chairman of health watchdog Barnet Community Health Council, called for more detail on where each specialist services would be based.

"If we are not told what the effect is on patients, we can't take part in a consultation," she said.

If approved, the merger will go ahead in April next year. You can have your say at a series of public meetings which all begin at 6pm.

November 16: recreation hall, Colindale Hospital, Colindale Avenue, Colindale.

November 23: The Institute, Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb.

December 2: Firs Banqueting Hall, Winchmore Hill, Winchmore Hill.

December 9: Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School, The Meadway, Barnet.

A meeting in Hertsmere is also planned, but details have yet to be announced.

Top of the problems with a merged hospital is likely to be the lack of public transport between Enfield and Barnet. The MP for Hendon Andrew Dismore wanted to know what the merger would mean for Edgware.

"Will high-flying consultants be willing to go to the new Edgware Community Hospital as part of their day to day work?" he said.

Mr Bunce said he already visited the hospitals at Edgware and Potters Bar to treat the 70 per cent of his cases which are not kept in overnight. But some patients will have to travel to get the best treatment.

"The laser equipment we are counting on getting costs £100,000 which is not feasible to have at every hospital," he said.

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