Council backs PCT (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Council backs PCT

PCT chief executive Carol ClarkeANGER over last month's hospital closures flared at a meeting between health chiefs and county councillors this week.

Bradford on Avon Hospital was shut permanently and services at Westbury were slashed two weeks ago.

West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has to save nearly £14m by March or troubleshooters could be called in to sort out the financial crisis.

At the county council's health and scrutiny committee on Wednesday, hospital supporters begged councillors to allow a 12-week public consultation period to discuss alternatives.

But PCT chief executive Carol Clarke said unless action was taken promptly there could be more trouble ahead.

Councillors voted against the consultation period but will write to the Secretary of State for Health and set up a task group to discuss the future of healthcare.

Sybil Maundrill, 73, of Princess Gardens, Warminster, said: "I wonder how much this lot (the PCT management) cost.

"Warminster used to have three hospitals, now it has one and that is barely surviving. Where has all the money gone?"

Afterwards Mrs Maundrill said: "I hope they can sleep in their beds tonight.

"I admit I got a bit upset, but they seem to have no compassion."

Chief executive Carol Clarke said "no change was not an option".

She said: "It has been a lack of leadership from past PCT boards that has caused this problem.

"We have to be brave and grasp this nettle. If we don't make this decision today we will have to make even more difficult decisions in the future."

UNISON rep Roger Davey pleaded with councillors to let the public meet and discuss possible alternatives.

He said: "The PCT say there is no substantial change to services. How can they say that when two hospitals are closing and 140 jobs are at risk?

"Let us have a chance for public consultation, these are the biggest changes in west Wiltshire's healthcare since 1948."

After the meeting Mr Davey said: "We are extremely disappointed with the outcome of this meeting.

"The public are missing out on the chance to shape the future of healthcare in west Wiltshire. It would be to the detriment of patients across the district, but that is the government's plan across the country."

In Bradford more than 800 people have signed a protest petition, organised by the League of Friends and displayed in the Mace store in Winsley Road.

In Westbury a protest march from the Market Place to the hospital is planned for 11am tomorrow.

PROTESTERS fighting the closure of Westbury Hospital have hung a banner on the famous White Horse to send their message to the world.

Westbury town councillor Mike Pearce said he did not know who was responsible for the posters but supported them wholeheartedly.

He said: "I agree with what they're doing. Anything which can give the campaign prominence I support."

A MEMBER of a patient health watchdog has resigned in protest at the hospital closures and accused it of being a lapdog to health bosses.

Erle Sparry, 78, quit the West Wiltshire Patient and Public Involvement Forum after it issued a statement saying it understood the decision of West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust to close Bradford on Avon Hospital and partially close Westbury Hospital.

Mr Sparry said: "I think the proper role of the PPI is not to be a lap dog which is what it is.

"It should be snapping at the heels of the PCT to make sure it delivers what the public expects from its health service.

"The objective is to represent patients and the public to the PCT and to try and influence decisions in a way that is acceptable to patients and the public.

"I have seen that, in practice, this doesn't happen. I have seen very, very little positive input."

Mr Sparry, a former civil servant, joined the PPI 18 months ago and said the statement issued by chairman Peter Biggs in the wake of the closures earlier this month was the final straw.

The statement said the PPI fully understood the decision to make the cuts and that the cash-strapped trust should be given time to continue negotiations on the future provision of health care across the district.

Mr Biggs said: "The role of the forum is to collect information from patients and the public and pass it on to the trust.

"In this case the trust is very well aware of people's views. They (the Trust) say this won't affect the overall service and we will be watching to ensure it doesn't."