01/12/06 NHS TRUST: 'WE WILL NOT CLOSE COTTAGE HOSPITALS' |
But have insisted far-reaching changes must be made to ensure their long-term survival. They spoke at the launch of plans to remove all beds from Withernsea Hospital, Hornsea Cottage Hospital, Beverley Westwood Hospital and Alfred Bean Hospital in Driffield. In their place, would be upgraded hospitals in Bridlington and Goole and an unspecified third location. And in the most controversial move, 50 NHS beds would be shifted into care homes in what is seen by critics as the creeping privatisation of the service, as previously reported. Today, officials at the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust said as much as £8m could be spent upgrading facilities in Bridlington and Goole. And a new hospital could be built in Market Weighton, depending on the results of the consultation. But they said the current community hospitals would "absolutely not" be closed. It is the first such guarantee since the Mail launched its Hands Off Our Hospitals campaign two years ago. Claire Wood, the PCT's interim chief executive, warned the current system must change and that doing nothing could lead to cuts and closures, clinical errors and problems finding and retaining staff. She said: "Our vision is to be able to treat a greater number of patients closer to home, giving them more independence and better health. "To do this we are committed to increasing our investment in community services. "We want the people of the East Riding to help us achieve this vision. We hope they will use this opportunity to tell us their views. "There has never been a better time to review the range of services across our communities, or a better opportunity to provide better, faster, fairer and more accessible care." When asked about the future of community hospitals, Dr Duncan Ross, director of commissioning and procurement at the PCT, said they would "absolutely not" be closed. He said: "This is good news - it is about, on balance, expanding the range of services. We will be increasing the range of clinical assessment, diagnostic and treatment services. "We have to be clear - there is absolutely no way we are trying to do this by subterfuge. "The status quo is not an option.We want to improve our community services as quick as possible and, ideally, set them up within two years. This is a consultation exercise and nothing will happen until we have a clear set of outcomes from the exercise." A public consultation document, issued by the PCT, states community hospital sites will be used to provide more clinical assessment, diagnostic and treatment services. They would also provide 24-hour access to minor injuries and ailments treatment on an appointment basis. The PCT's consultation includes a question about how many upgraded - or intermediate - hospitals they want. If a third hospital is asked for, it could be sited at Driffield, Beverley or at a new location in Market Weighton. But residents have been warned choosing to have three hospitals would have an impact on how much money could be spent on services elsewhere. The public have until March 8 to make their views known. Four meetings will be held to consult on the document throughout the county. The consultation document is available from the trust's website. Forms can be completed online. [email protected] Links Hands Off Our Hospitals www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/handsoff/ East Riding Of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust www.erypct.nhs.uk What do you think?E-mail: [email protected] Mick Pilling (Chairman) |
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