Suffolk Coastal Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats join the protest outside the PCT meeting in Kesgrave, January 2006

Save our hospitals

Despite a massive thumbs-down from their extensive ‘Public Consultation’, Suffolk East Primary Care Trusts are to go ahead with savage cut-backs in local health services.

• Ipswich Hospital – up to 52 medical and 28 surgical beds to be cut
• In-patient beds in Felixstowe – to be cut to 16
• Bartlet Hospital and Annexe – to close
• NHS beds at Aldeburgh Hospital – to be cut from 36 to 20
• Hartismere Hospital in Eye – to close
• Hayward Day Hospital for older people at Ipswich – to close
• The Hollies at St Clements Hospital, Ipswich – to close
• The Pines Day Service based at St Clements – to close
• Old Fox Clubhouse, Stowmarket and Bridge House Clubhouse, Ipswich – to close
• Mental health day hospitals at Kesgrave, Saxmundham and Violet Hill – to close

Of the hundreds of people who responded to the consultation only a tiny proportion – between 2% and 8% – had a good word for any of the proposals. Opposition ranged from 72% to a whopping 91%. Not much room for doubt there about what local people think. Yet at their meeting on 25th January the Trusts decided to go ahead anyway.

Whatever they pretend, the real driver behind these cut-backs is financial necessity. The Trusts have run up huge debts that they have to pay back over the next two years. And the fact is the present proposals won’t be enough. Even if they manage to break even this year, there will be another £26m. to find next year and they admit they haven’t a clue where that’s coming from. Present cuts in bed numbers will leave Aldeburgh and Felixstowe General teetering on the edge of viability. How long before we’re told they too will have to be closed and sold off?