Hospital fight is only just starting (From This Is Wiltshire)

Hospital fight is only just starting

9:27am Thursday 13th April 2006

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SAVE OUR HOSPITAL: CAMPAIGNERS and unions have warned that the battle to save Chippenham Hospital is only just beginning after it emerged that closing most of its beds is the front-runner of three options for the future of health care.

After weeks of speculation, cash-strapped health bosses finally promised on Friday the 76-bed hospital would not close completely.

But Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust revealed it would not remain as it is now either.

MP James Gray warned people not to be lulled into a false sense of security, and said the fight to save the hospital was only just hotting up.

"There is a very, very deep crisis here and it's an absolute scandal," he said. "People should not relax with regard to Chippenham Hospital and realise that the PCT still has it in its sights to close it down."

Protesters breathed a sigh of relief when they learned the much-needed 24-hour minor injuries and maternity units were not under threat.

Option one, described by the PCT as the "brave" option, would leave Chippenham as the only community hospital in the county, and reduce its beds to just 20 in the stoke unit.

The second option would allow for three community hospitals Chippenham, with a 20-bed stroke unit, Melksham, with 50 beds and Savernake with 24 beds.

Option three would retain the same three hospitals but Chippenham would have 50 beds, including 20 on the stroke ward, Melksham with 20 and Savernake with 24. And because Devizes, Trowbridge and Warminster hospitals have all been sounded the death knell, it will mean extra work for staff in Chippenham.

PCT director in charge of the proposals Nicholas Gillard described option one as the "brave" option.

He said: "A number of GPs said they like option one because it gives greater flexibility in the longer term."

But GPs in Chippenham said they hadn't been asked their views yet.

Roger Davey, senior steward for health union Unison, believes Chippenham Hospital is still in danger despite it being retained under all three options.

He said: "Chippenham Hospital is more vulnerable than originally thought.

"It was a surprise to staff that under two of the options the beds will be reduced to 20 stroke beds only. This means a major loss of beds and redundancies."

A nurse at the hospital, who wished to remain anonymous, said staff were given the news in a meeting last Thursday.

She said: "It doesn't take a genius to work out that the people of Chippenham and surrounding areas are going to be much worse off.

"There will be no out-patient department, no day hospital, no clinics. There is a question mark over how many physiotherapists and occupational therapists will be retained.

"There will be considerably fewer intake of patients from Bath and Swindon for rehab. We do not know if there will be an ultrasound or x-ray.

"There will be redundancies of ancillary staff but not, of course, the managers."

Elizabeth Sexton, chair of the League of Friends, urged people to attend public meetings over the coming weeks to voice their concerns.

She said: "We need to emphasise that the fight is not over. People think that it's all finished and the hospital has been saved but it hasn't. We've got to watch what's happening."

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