Milford Hospital: Two more steps closer to securing future (South West Surrey Liberal Democrats)

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

Milford Hospital: Two more steps closer to securing future

November 18, 2004 6:07 PM

Campaigners fighting to save Milford Hospital have achieved two more concessions from the Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust (PCT) this afternoon (Thursday 18th November).

The latest progress comes on the back of the PCT withdrawing its April 1st, 2005 closure date and agreeing to look at six options, instead of their original plan to close the hospital and relocate services elsewhere.

At a public meeting in Milford Village Hall on Monday (Nov. 15th), Simon Cordon, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate, had called for one of the options to be changed to allow for keeping the hospital and expanding the services available.

Originally the PCT had said they would look at the option of keeping the hospital and developing it with a private partner, but Simon felt this was too narrow and wanted any potential expansion of services to include new NHS services, as well as the potential of a private or voluntary sector partner, such as the provision of a new nursing home on site.

At a meeting today the PCT Board agreed to Simon's request and amended the partnership option to read: "retain services on the Milford Hospital site, developing services in conjunction with other providers and partners".

"This is a crucial concession", said a delighted Simon. "My argument throughout has been that the hospital's future will be secured by expanding services. This agreement by the PCT now gives us the formal right to present the case for an expansion of the hospital as one of the options the PCT will now fully appraise".

At today's Board Meeting Simon also pressed the Board to meet with the cross-community campaign group he established three weeks with the full support of local MPs Virginia Bottomley and Sue Doughty and Simon's Conservative opposite, Jeremy Hunt.

"I want the PCT to work with us on developing the option of expanding the hospital rather than us just hound them at every opportunity. There is immense talent and knowledge in our joint campaign group and we can help the PCT. Our bottom line, of course, is the retention of Milford Hospital. By talking directly with us we can help the PCT address some of its financial worries whilst keeping Milford".

In answer to Simon's formal request PCT Chief Executive Liz Slinn and Chairman Chris Grimes, agreed to meet the campaign group to discuss the group's ideas.

Simon, who first launched a plan to expand services at Milford Hospital last April, said: "We have our work cut out to develop a comprehensive proposal to expand services at the hospital, one that addresses the finance as well as medical excellence. I hope my original plan, called 'a bold new future for Milford Hospital', will be a helpful starting point".