Northwich may not get hospital inpatients unit after all (From Northwich Guardian)

Northwich may not get hospital inpatients unit after all

6:10pm Sunday 14th March 2010 in

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CAMPAIGNERS have reacted angrily after it was revealed Northwich may not get the inpatients unit it was promised.

Members of Save Our Northwich Inpatients Campaign (SONIC) were disappointed to hear that health bosses do not have enough money to replace and improve the much-loved beds unit at the Victoria Infirmary Northwich (VIN).

Residents expected to be consulted on plans to create a health super centre at VIN early this year, but have instead been told that this may no longer be an option after the recession.

Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) was behind the plans, which would have seen Witton Street, Dane Bridge and Middlewich Road surgeries merge under one roof with VIN.

Liam Byrne, from SONIC, said: “My interest, as a member of the Save Our Northwich Inpatients Campaign, is the future of the much respected and loved small beds unit at the Victoria Infirmary which has served our community well for generations.

“In particular, it has provided care for the old and infirm close to their homes and to their families and friends who can visit them often without making long car journeys or on public transport if they can actually find a bus or coach.

“It now seems that the promise given to the people of Northwich all of four full years ago that the beds would be reprovided in the town and that we would have a new community hospital will not be honoured.

“This is a scandal which should not be allowed to happen.

“It is also an act of gross incompetence by the PCT who have had four years to deliver on their undertaking.

“Instead, have waffled themselves to a standstill.

“It has also spent a great deal of money along the way to get precisely nowhere.”

Campaigners are also afraid that the current 103-year-old, 25-bed unit will be forced to close when it has its next structural survey which is due in April or May, before any new unit could be provided.

Liam said SONIC’s idea to save the beds is to design a simple unit with essential modern medical aids and services.

He said: “Finance the cost of the new beds unit by reducing the number of directors, associate directors, senior managers bureaucrats, number crunchers, spin doctors and pen pushers in the PCT at the present time.”

“The PCT must realise that the NHS is ours, paid for by our taxes and National Insurance contributions over many years.

“The community decides the priorities and it now is demanding delivery of the in patient beds unit and the community hospital that it was promised four years ago. Soon.”