Hospital closure hit-list revealed (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Hospital closure hit-list revealed

Bradford on Avon HospitalTHE black day hospital campaigners had dreaded for 20 years arrived this week, but many feel the worst is still to come.

Bradford on Avon Hospital was closed permanently and services at Westbury were slashed as a cash-strapped health trust look to balance the books.

West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust was told last week it has seven months to save nearly £14m.

The closures will save the PCT an estimated £2.8m over the coming year, which means they have identified £11.2m of savings.

The axe also loomed over hospitals in Melksham and Warminster but they received a "stay of execution".

PCT bosses still have to find a way of saving another £2.6m before March 31, which could put the future of these two hospitals at risk. Trowbridge Hospital was not threatened with closure because of talks on creating a single primary care centre in the town.

The idea floated for the county town is part of a national plan to create new "super-surgeries" with GPs working alongside nurses, pharmacists, dentists and therapists.

Campaigners across the district have fought for 20 years to save the threatened hospitals and many were dismayed by Wednesday's announcements. Roger Davey, a steward with UNISON, said: "I am extremely disappointed by the decision of the board.

"I think it is the beginning of a programme which will result in the closure of all our local hospitals. The decision will affect the most vulnerable people in the community.

"We think the way the Bradford staff have been treated is a disgrace and we are determined to campaign against the decision."

The permanent closure of Bradford means the 10 inpatient beds, day hospital and outpatient services will be moved elsewhere.

In Westbury the award-winning stroke unit will be transferred to Chippenham and the remaining seven inpatient beds will be moved.

Outpatient services, radiology and the day hospital will go but the day surgery and dental suite will stay, alongside the branch GP surgery and Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths.

PCT chief executive Carol Clarke said the decisions were tough but unless drastic savings were made, all services would be in jeopardy.

She said: "We are legally obliged to save £13.8m by March 2006, we can no longer spend money that we do not have and we have no choice but to make these savings.

"The level of spending is such that action must be taken now to prevent continued over-spending spiralling out of control and to enable us to make a start in shaping our future to ensure a modern health service is provided to meet the population's health needs."

District councillor Graham Payne proposed a motion of no confidence in the PCT management board and called for their resignation en bloc. West Wilts MP Dr Andrew Murrison said he would take the matter up with Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

He said: "I am very unhappy with the decision that has been made.

"I am concerned it will be a substantial blow to healthcare, particularly for the elderly.

"The Sword of Damocles still hangs over our hospitals with the Pathways For Change.

"The PCT might be minded to cut even further into community hospital provision."

A staff nurse from Warminster hospital said the cottage hospitals provide better care than any other units.

She said: "They talk about treating people in the home but there is a reason why people are in the hospitals.

"Many homes can be unsafe for very ill or elderly patients and they need the care of the hospitals. I have worked in several acute hospitals across London and none of them provide the care and basic nursing needs as well as the community hospitals."

Melksham mayor Margaret White said: "It is good news for Melksham that we have got a stay of execution, but we don't know for how long.

"If they want people in Bradford and Westbury to travel to the other hospitals, transport links need to be improved."