Health minister visits Calne

10:38am Friday 1st February 2008

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HEALTH minister Ben Bradshaw paid a visit to Calne yesterday to meet with frontline health and social care staff at the health centre in Broken Cross.

The health centre employs a team of community nurses and specialists who can visit patients in their own homes and provide around the clock care.

The visit tied in with the news that Wiltshire Primary Care Trust will see millions of pounds worth of debt written off.

Wiltshire PCT's £20m debt is being wiped out as a reward for making about £8m savings and reinvesting in neighbourhood community nurses, like the ones in Calne.

The Labour MP was given a tour of the health centre and met with nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Mr Bradshaw praised the health centre's team and said: "There have been some problems with Wiltshire, in particular the problems with the management.

"This visit is just to see how the staff feel they are working and how the service is being offered.

"It has taken a while but we seem to have got there."

Although the minister said that multi purpose health centres like the one in Calne were not being set up to fill the gap after the closure of community hospitals.

He said: "Most people would rather stay in their own home but it is also better because when you go into hospital it can take a long time to come out again.

"We have listened to what people want and this is what was asked for. Most people don't want to go into hospital if they can avoid it.

"More services that can be provided in peoples homes are being provided. Some of the old community hospitals around were far from modern."