LISKEARD finally got the go-ahead this week from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority for a new 52 bed hospital which will cost £6.4million.

The building work will begin in May on the site at Clemo Road to the east of the town, and should open to receive the first patients by the winter of 2003.

The news came in the same week that another baby was born at the town's Passmore Edwards Hospital - the second within six weeks. Before that there had been a gap of 16 years.

Little Caitlin Melena Kessell arrived in the world six weeks early, weighing in at 4lbs 12 ozs, to the delight of her proud parents, St Cleer couple Louise Bartlett (22), and Steven Kessell (28).

It is normal for expectant mothers in the Caradon area to have their babies at Derriford in Plymouth, with some opting for Truro's Treliske to ensure a Cornish birth, but for this couple however, it would have been a journey too far, as there were complications, and it was decided the journey could prove dangerous.

Steven, a taxi driver, was worried about Louise's health and contacted Kernow Doc at Passmore on the Wednesday evening. Duty Doctor, Simon Fullerlove of Quay Lane Surgery, took the call and asked that Louise be brought in. The dash in the taxi took place around 11pm, and after an assessment was made it was decided that the delivery would take place at the hospital. Caitlin arrived at 1am, fit and healthy. Steven has since been full of praise for all the staff at Passmore. 'They were absolutely wonderful and couldn't have done more for us, but at the time I was very worried' he said.

'Because the baby was early and Louise wasn't very well I felt anxious, especially as the hospital is not equipped for births. There is no incubator and electronic monitoring equipment.'.

Steven has since said the hospital would have been under real pressure had other serious cases come in when Louise was in labour, and feels there should be some sort of emergency maternity unit at the new hospital when it is built, especially as the population is increasing all the time.

Speaking on behalf of the North and East Cornwall Primary Care Trust, the general manager, Helen Newson, who is also a midwife, said she understood Mr Kessell's concerns, but there were no plans for such facilities to be provided at the new hospital.

'There are financial constraints' she said, 'and medical equipment such as an incubator could not be on standby in case of a birth, when it would be needed more often elsewhere.

'I believe it is more important to have the community staff available and their skills'.

She added that in such circumstances however, the services are reviewed and lessons can be learned. 'We are very happy that everything turned out well for the Kessells and our staff at Passmore were there to help'.

When asked if the new hospital would accept emergency maternity equipment if it was provided by the community she said that it would be happily received.

There are 700 births in the Caradon area each year.

l Above: proud parents Louise and Steven with their new arrival.