At the march through the streets of Ludlow last weekend, when thousands protested against cuts of 2 wards, 30 beds and untold jobs in Ludlow, Mr Dunne set the local crisis in the national context: 10 community hospitals have closed in the first six months of 2006. Overall, 80 hospitals out of 350 nationwide have suffered or are threatened with cuts or closure.
The Health White Paper, 'Our Health, our Care, our Say,' published in March 2006, stated that 'community facilities should not be lost in response to short-term budgetary pressures that are not related to the viability of the community facility itself.' Two weeks ago, the Secretary of State told the House of Commons that the Government would be making up to £750 million available to invest in community hospital facilities. Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) will be invited to bid for the money, which will be used to improve services, convert old acute hospitals and build new community hospitals.
Philip Dunne said, "We need community hospital beds to support care in the home, to present an alternative to admission to acute hospitals, to provide opportunities for early discharge from acute hospitals and for periods of in-patient palliative care. Patients should be entitled to choose; sometimes it is just not appropriate for a patient to return home and in these cases being in a hospital near to their homes, families and neighbours makes a big difference. I am calling on the PCT to take up the Health Secretary's offer, apply for a fair slice of this funding, and build up the services in Ludlow by bringing the two GP practices on to the hospital site and increase services, not cut them."
