Cordon's ambition for a minor injuries unit in Farnham is "getting closer" (South West Surrey Liberal Democrats)

South West Surrey Liberal Democrats <info@swsurreylibdems.org.uk>

Cordon's ambition for a minor injuries unit in Farnham is "getting closer"

April 5, 2004 8:12 PM

Simon looks at the Farnham Hospital map where two empty rooms were planned for the minor injuries unit

Simon Cordon, the LibDem Parliamentary Spokesman for South West Surrey, is claiming that real progress is being made with his campaign for a minor injuries unit to be opened at Farnham Hospital.

"I am more optimistic about this than I have been at any time during the two years of this campaign", said Simon.

The LibDem campaigner, who has built a reputation for defending and improving our local health services, first raised the lack of a minor injuries unit in 2002 when he found out that that original promises for the unit had been forgotten during the planning of the new hospital for Farnham.

"I was clear that the original plans had provided for a minor injuries unit but health planners at the time denied this was so. We soon established that two rooms were set aside but that the funds for staff and equipment were no longer part of the plan", said Simon.

Since then Simon has been relentlessly pushing for a minor injuries to be opened at the hospital.

On Monday 5th April Simon discussed the issue with Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust Chief Executive, Liz Slinn. "The good news is that Liz and her team share my view that provision of more services locally is the right way to go. Despite the funding difficulties facing the PCT I sense a very positive feeling towards the benefits that a minor injuries unit would bring in Farnham, particularly in terms of taking pressure away from the A&E at Frimley Park".

A new minor injuries unit opened recently at the Royal Surrey and the PCT has experimented with extended hours at the unit based within Haslemere Hospital.

An important factor to getting a minor injuries unit in Farnham will be the willingness of local GPs to participate and provide services. "We must not see this as a hurdle but as a real opportunity to bind together the services provided by our excellent GP practices in Farnham and the benefits of greater primary care that the new hospital environment offers", said Simon.

Last week Simon floated the idea that Frimley Park should share the costs of a minor injuries unit at Farnham. "With the PCT building on the experience of minor injuries units elsewhere and Frimley sharing part of the funding we could see progress towards this unit coming sooner rather than later. I think we are getting close to seeing this ambition realised", added Simon.