Doctors are set to lose their right to run care facilities at Liskeard Community Hospital after the county's Primary Care Trust served them with redundancy notices. The move, which is specific to Liskeard and does not involve any other community hospitals in Cornwall at present, severs the traditional link between GPs working in practices at Liskeard, Pensilva and St Germans with the hospital's Willow Ward. In the past the doctors have effectively run the ward, nominating their patients for the 19 beds available and providing personal care for them, as they did at the former Passmore Edwards Hospital, replaced by the new facility in 2004. But the Cornish Times has learned that as from August 1, Liskeard Community Hospital (LCH) will be run by the doctor appointed by the Primary Care Trust. Dr Kourosh Sahebi is currently responsible for St Barnabas Hospital in Saltash and will share his time between the two facilities. Local GP practices will no longer be able to send patients in need directly to LCH. The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust this week confirmed the changes saying that while there were no cost benefits, patients would receive better continuity of care through the new arrangements. The doctors have been told they can continue to provide care for existing patients on the ward but that this will cease at the end of August. Dr Stephen Jefferies, speaking on behalf of colleagues at the Oak Tree Surgery in Liskeard, said the redundancy notices were in fact served on the practices involved back in January but the Primary Care Trust had only just brought matters to a conclusion.'It will mean a big change in how local people perceive their community hospital,' he said. 'We have been aware for some time that the PCT have been unhappy about GPs running their local hospital and they feel they can provide a service by having a dedicated doctor working on the ward there.' He said he and his colleagues were saddened at the changes which had taken place at the hospital in recent years. These had seen the close link between the local community and the hospital eroded but negotiations were continuing in an effort to retain some admitting rights for the local practices, subject to bed space being available. Antek Lejk, director of community services with the PCT told the Cornish Times:'We are providing full-time medical support to Willow Ward, with the appointment of a staff grade doctor, to better respond to the changing and increasing clinical needs of patients in Community Hospitals.' He added: 'We will continue to work closely with the local GPs to ensure excellent care continues to be delivered at Liskeard Community Hospital. Local GPs may still engage with and advise on the treatment their own patients receive while at the hospital.'
