Hospital Fight goes up a gear
August 29, 2005 8:29 PM
Simon Campaigns for Milford
Campaigners fighting for the future of Milford Hospital are remaining defiant that they will fight to the bitter end.
Earlier this year opposition from the public and campaigners forced the Primary Care Trust (PCT) to abandon formal closure plans - but no longterm commitment was given by the PCT about the hospital's future. Since then the PCT has acted in an underhand way and is closing beds by stealth. They openly said that they would remove ten beds, technically set aside for orthopaedic patients, but in recent weeks have decided to close a further ten beds. This means that one of three wards - Oak Ward - will be closed completely. The PCT say this is "temporary".
The official reason for the "temporary" closure of Oak Ward is too few staff and that new staff cannot be recruited. "If recruitment is difficult, it is because of the PCT's own actions and neglect", says leading campaigner Simon Cordon.
But they CANNOT close Milford Hospital without further public consultation and without proving that an improved service will be provided in some other way. "We know what the PCT are up to", says Simon. "They are looking for any evidence they can cobble together to close Milford Hospital. We have stopped them before by defeating their arguments and we remain as determined as ever to fight them again. Without any sensible alternative our goal remains as ever: to secure the longterm future of Milford Hospital as a centre of excellence for specialist elderly care".
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats