Campaigners win Milford orthopaedic beds argument (South West Surrey Liberal Democrats)

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

Campaigners win Milford orthopaedic beds argument

February 28, 2005 10:52 PM

Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust (PCT) has failed to convince its local watchdog of plans to close ten orthopaedic beds at Milford Hospital. The PCT Board decided in January to go ahead with closing the ten beds with patients staying at the Royal Surrey for orthopaedic rehabilitation rather than benefiting from the services at Milford Hospital.

But they need agreement from the local health watchdog, the Surrey Health Scrutiny Committee. This committee has to examine all changes to local health services and has the power to refer any closures to the Secretary of State for Health if it believes that there will be a loss of health care. The PCT could still close the beds, but without the Scrutiny Committee approval, they could find the decision over-turned by a minister at a later date.

The joint campaign committee fighting to save Milford Hospital had submitted a formal objection about the closure to the Scrutiny Committee. Last week (Thurs 24th Feb) the Scrutiny Committee considered the PCT's request and the formal objection. They refused to support the closure saying that the PCT had not provided sufficient evidence to support their case.

Committee Chairman, Mrs Diana Bowes, thanked the author of the cross-community objection paper, Simon Cordon, for attending the meeting.

Afterwards Simon said, "The Scrutiny Committee has acted responsibly by insisting that no closures take place at Milford Hospital unless there is clear evidence as to how patient care would be equal or better as a result of any change".

"When the PCT made its decision to close these ten beds I said we could fight them and win. This is a small victory but an important one. There is still a long way to go, but we have again proved that if we work hard enough we can save Milford Hospital. People must keep heart. I am confident we shall secure Milford's future once and for all and that the PCT will eventually have to accept the logic of keeping Milford Hospital as a core part of the services for the care of the elderly in our area".