When does 80=28? With a PCT calculator. (South West Surrey Liberal Democrats)

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

When does 80=28? With a PCT calculator.

September 9, 2004 10:23 PM

With hours of hearing the news about the PCT's plan to close Milford Hospital, Simon Cordon has challenged their bed number assumptions.

Simon claims that the paper being presented to the PCT Board "seeks to give the impression that no beds will be lost, but in fact 52 beds will go as a result of this proposal".

In a letter to PCT chief executive, Liz Slinn, Simon says that the PCT have failed to get the basic facts right in the document, which will be presented to the PCT Board next Thursday, September 16th.

Simon has demanded that the Board be told the true position over bed numbers.

"This review was supposed to be about the rehabilitation services, not just Milford Hospital. There are currently 60 beds at Milford. Add to that Oak Ward which was moved from Milford to the Royal Surrey a while back and you have a total of 80. The PCT document claims there are only 50 beds at Milford. Their justification will be that a couple of months ago they said that the Royal Surrey wanted ten less beds at Milford, that's how 60 becomes 50. But what about Oak Ward? This is still supposed to be carrying out rehab work. The PCT are asking the Board to ignore Oak Ward plus ten beds currently occupied by patients at Milford. It's a sham and a disgrace", said Simon.

The illusion, says Simon, is still worse. The PCT say 22 of the Milford beds will be relocated to Farnham. "Reading their document carefully what they actually mean is that 22 beds currently in use at Farnham will be double-counted. They are proposing using existing Farnham Hospital beds not adding 22 to the hospital. That is sheer deception", added Simon.

"Ultimately the PCT hopes to build a new ward of just 28 beds at the Royal Surrey to carry out Milford's work. The reality is that this plan is not a plan that keeps all current rehabilitation beds. It is a plan that cuts them from 80 to 28. I am insisting that the Board be made aware of these facts", said Simon.

"If the PCT try to pull the wool over our eyes, they will lose the trust of everyone. Less than 10 hours since publishing their plan and it is already falling apart", concluded Simon.