Warwick Hospital Future - Less Bleak

10.45.17am GMT Thu 11th Jan 2007

After months of speculation about the future of Warwick Hospital the picture is starting to look less bleak. Whilst there are concerns about how the hospital will recover from its £23M debt and how reorganisations might affect Warwick the picture is not as bad as some groups, especially the Conservatives have made out.

NHS

The Midweek Herald (9th Jan) reports that Warwick Hospital has come top in the West Midlands for clinical productivity, and goes on to report that the 'double deficit' rules, may be rescinded and that the £22.9M debt position may start to improve.

The Courier (8th December) under the headline 'Hospital Pours Scorn on Tory claims that A&E might be closed', reports that there are no plans to close the A&E department at Warwick. The hospital's new chief executive Glen Burley, in response to the Tory claims and high profile protests said: "There are no plans, or even discussions around either closing or downgrading the A&E department at Warwick Hospital."

Lib-Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Warwick & Leamington, Alan Beddow said, "I have watched the Tory's marching around Warwick & Leamington for some months now under the banner of 'Save Warwick Hospital' when clearly the Hospital is not under threat."

Alan attended the Warwickshire PCT Board meeting in Warwick on the 10th January and reports that the new Chairman Bryan Stoten was very clear in his criticism of what he termed 'hysteria' surrounding the future of the hospital. He said that there were no plans to close A&E or Maternity. Bryan went on to say that he had been concerned that for about 3-4 months there had been almost a delight by certain groups in spreading doom and gloom about the hospital and making claims that were simply untrue.

Warwick & Leamington Liberal Democrats will continue to monitor the situation so that people in the area can be informed and be involved.

Related Links:

Warwickshire Acute Services Review.

Warwick & Leamington Liberal Democrats - Response to Acute Services Review.

Warwickshire NHS Primary Care Trust.