Anne Main: Pledges to Fight to Keep St Albans City and District Hospital
23rd March 2006
The Dacorum Action Group has obtained a report, 'The Interim Measures Project', by West Hertfordshire NHS Trust which revealed that the future of the St Albans City and District site is still not guaranteed.
The Dacorum Action Group has obtained a report, 'The Interim Measures Project', by West Hertfordshire NHS Trust which revealed that the future of the St Albans City and District site is still not guaranteed. The Report is considering the best way of reducing some of the Trust's massive financial deficits. To do so various options were being considered including the possibility that:
'it may be necessary to consider selling a complete site. St Albans City Hospital would be the most obvious choice as this site is the most valuable per hectare and many of the services could be accommodated at Hemel Hempstead.'
The report continues:
'The political ramifications of this may be too great to consider this option further. If however, this is considered politically acceptable the consequences could be explored in greater detail'"
At a meeting only five weeks ago between Anne Main and the Director of Strategy for West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust, Ms Sarah Shaw, to discuss the future of the Hospital this had not been revealed - even after specifically asking if the Hospital was to remain.
Anne commented: "I was very disturbed to learn today the proposals brought to light as a result of a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by Dacorum Action Group."
"Mr. David Laws, Chief Executive of West Hertfordshire NHS Trust, stressed during a telephone conversation today that the reason this option was not revealed at the meeting in February was because this was not being considered. Yet, I now have in my hand a report, stating in black and white, that "the potential to achieve greater capital receipts by withdrawing services from one site [St Albans City and District Hospital] completely and selling the total site should be subject to further detailed exploration.'"
"When I challenged Mr. Laws about the information within the document he commented that the document was probably 'poorly drafted.' To my eyes, the entire document appears to be a comprehensive appraisal of the difficult decisions that have to be taken to address the massive financial debts which are threatening both services and jobs.
"I am also disappointed to read that the main consideration in the report seems to be political fallout and money - not patient care. I told Mr. Laws that I take little comfort or assurance from his words after reading this report.
"Mr. Laws told me that this was not their preferred option. Nonetheless, the report also exposes that the preferred option within 'Investing in Your Health' of a centralised site at Watford generates serious concern from the Trust's clinicians who claim that:
'the early implementation of Investing in Your Health in advance of the new hospital and access road may jeopardise the future of services as patients and staff may opt to go elsewhere and the Trust may never get a new hospital.'"
"St Albans, can and should have, a great future as a Community Hospital serving local residents. With its newly opened breast cancer unit, incredibly supportive friends who help fund raise and a group of local Doctors who wish to see enhanced facilities such as an 'Urgicentre' delivering a one-stop 24 hour service we should resist any attempts by the Trust to sell off this valuable site."
As the local Member of Parliament I certainly cannot support the loss of our local hospital. If the Trust does not definitely proceed with another option, which leaves the City Hospital in a robust and healthy state giving patients an excellent level of care: I will fight it all the way."
