Lack of funds leads to hospital shock

Lack of funds leads to hospital shock

Liskeard is facing a longer wait for its promised new community hospital because of a miscalculation by the Cornwall Health Authority over the annual running costs to a total of £187,000. And it could lead to a cut in the number of beds it was to have provided.

Dr Geoffrey Smerdon, chairman of the working party set up three years ago to campaign for the new hospital, angrily contacted The Cornish Times this week, because he fears that when the hospital is eventually built, it could be minus nine beds, to make up for the shortfall in cash. He said that the situation was simply not acceptable and that it was time the people of Liskeard and district were made aware of the situation.

'Seventeen beds were lost at Lamellion Hospital six months ago in the health cuts, leaving 33 beds for elderly care, and there are only 19 G P beds at Passmore Edwards Hospital which is already seeing a back blockage' he said. 'The proposed number of beds for the new hospital, to replace both the other hospitals is 52, and any less than that will not meet the health needs of the district'.

The Working Party says the new hospital building, on one of the three sites still being considered, was due to begin at the end of March 2000 for opening in September 2001, but is already into six months slippage in the planning process. The CHA approved the Outline Business Case at the beginning of April, but until the shortfall in annual running income is addressed it cannot be put up to the PFI (Private Finance Initiative) for bids. Bidders' day for the hospital had in fact been scheduled for as far back as March.

The local committee says it believes that the East Cornwall Primary Care Group and Cornwall Healthcare Trust have both been approached for some funds, but have said they do not have any more money available.

The Chief Executive of the Health Authority, Mr Ron Spencer said in a letter to Dr Smerdon on April 29, that it was disappointing that the financial problem had arisen. 'In the current climate it is not acceptable to proceed with a new hospital with a financial risk' he said. He did however give assurances that every effort was being made to find an option that would not lead to a reduction in the number of beds. However, Dr Smerdon has accused the Health Authority of falling down on its promises to the people of Liskeard. 'They have no current solution to their difficulty and I believe they are stringing us along. I predict that nothing will continue to happen and we shall have to soldier on with Passmore and a reduced Lamellion for an indefinite time' he said.

Mrs Lorna Phillips, deputy chairman of the League of Friends of Cornwall said South East Cornwall was an exploding population and needed the hospital. 'Liskeard has been helpful and co-operative to the CHA whereas Bodmin took a more aggressive approach. They already have their hospital and the CHA has been more generous financially' she said.

In a statement yesterday (Thursday), the Cornwall Health Authority said 'Discussions are underway between the Health Authority, Primary Care Group and Cornwall Healthcare Trust to resolve these funding problems. The Health Authority is confident that a way forward can be found and are determined to ensure that the new Liskeard Community Hospital is built as soon as possible'.