Hospital closures still a reality to save money (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Hospital closures still a reality to save money

THE chief executive of Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has again hinted that local community hospitals must close if it is able to provide a proper service without maintaining a huge deficit.

In her report to the joint annual general meeting of the Kennet and North Wiltshire and the West Wiltshire PCTs at Devizes Town Hall on Tuesday, Carol Clarke said: "With support, we could begin the journey to move us towards being at the leading edge of healthcare provision, where more people are treated for every pound we spend on healthcare.

"We could work towards reducing our debts, and increase investment in new services based around primary care.

"In addition, we could move services from both acute and community hospitals into new settings. We could do all of these things, but only if we are willing to embrace the future together."

Mrs Clarke admitted having sleepless nights over the problems facing the trust, notably its current £10 million deficit, but she had hope for the future with the new management team in place.

She paid tribute to the staff who had worked unstintingly in the face of clinical and financial pressures.

She said: "Staff is the biggest cost to the PCT but it is also its biggest asset."

Mrs Clarke, who took up her post last October, reviewed the past year which saw the resignation of the

former chief executive of West Wiltshire PCT. The Kennet and North Wilts finance director had also left and there had been some difficulties over continuity.

She said: "2004 is likely to go down as the year reality hit home. This year will be the year the tables begin to turn."

Director of finance Nicola Dunn said the PCT had failed in its statutory obligation to balance its books, by still having the £10 million overspend in its accounts.

The Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority had dangled a £14 million carrot in the guise of a loan if the PCT achieved a number of milestones in its road to economic stability.

The trust had not yet received this money but £11m of it would be repayable in the next financial year.