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Rochdale Infirmary to lose another ward
Reporter: Laura Wild
Date online: 08 September 2010
Rochdale Infirmary will lose another ward in the near future, Rochdale Online understands.
The Sparthfield general surgery ward is to close in the last weekend of October.
As a result the Chairwoman of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Jean Ashworth has called an emergency meeting to find out why the decision has been taken.
Councillor Ashworth said: “Staff have about six weeks to weigh up their future, it is absolutely disgraceful.
“I am extremely angry, this is another decision which has been taken prematurely and it shouldn’t have been made.
“The Trust is trying to say that it is to do with government cut backs but it is nothing to do with that.”
Councillor Ashworth added: “The staff are devastated over it. This leaves just one ward to cope at the infirmary. It is not acceptable and it is not in the reconfiguration plans.
“The Trust can’t keep doing what they please when it suits them.”
When Rochdale Online approached the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust A spokesman said: “As part of the Healthy Futures reconfiguration programme, which was agreed in 2007 after clinical and public consultation, the Trust is planning a series of ward changes across all our hospitals over the next few months, including Rochdale Infirmary, The Royal Oldham Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital.
“The plans, which will predominantly affect the Trust’s surgical division, are currently being discussed with clinical and nursing staff but no details have yet been confirmed. These changes are not about service reduction but about implementing service improvements for patients across the Trust.
“In addition, like all parts of the NHS, the Trust is facing cost reductions of 4.5 per cent imposed by central Government. As money becomes tighter but demand for services increase, NHS trusts are being required to transform services and do more with less, which means reducing costs and increasing productivity.
“One area in which all hospitals are looking to reduce costs is by reducing the length of stay for patients and reducing the number of beds. As a Trust this size we have the ability and opportunity to look across all four hospitals to identify possible cost reductions.”
When asked to confirm if the ward was closing the Trust refused to comment.
Councillor Jean Ashworth said: “I don’t know why they are denying it.”
Speaking about the emergency meeting she has called, Councillor Ashworth said: “It is important that the Trust sits in front of us and tells us the true reason why this ward is closing.
Councillor Ashworth has invited councillors from neighbouring Whitworth to the meeting as they too have raised concerns.
The emergency meeting will take place at the Rochdale Town Hall next Thursday (16 September 2010) at 3pm.
Comments
This is a dying town, the last thing it needs is more ward closures! Then again, we could always do with the empty shops what Colin Crompton said Morecambe should do with its bus shelters. The way the health service is going here it won't be long before we are overun with bodies!
The way the staff have been treated and informed is appalling; as a relative of a recent patient on Sparthfield, seeing the staff devastated yet still giving 100%, the trust should be ashamed! As a visitor on the ward on numerous occasions over many years I can only praise the dedication of the staff even when they have been under tremendous pressure. All I can say is you all deserve better.
The powers that be would probably be private patients so it does not affect them, only the people of Rochdale. But it is too late for them to have their say, decisions have already been signed and sealed like all the decisions over the years with Rochdale Infirmary! I admire Cllr Ashworth but think the battle is lost, it was lost a long time ago. The people of Rochdale don't have a say.
Will the last one out please close the door and switch the light off?
Have Your Say
Cllr Ashworth is a hardworking and sincere person and I have every admiration for her determination in this matter, but the trust will do as it wants, and we will end up with a service not fit to serve the needs of Rochdale. We are losing our NHS provision at Whitehall Street bit by bit, and the powers that be don't live or work here, so why should they care?
By Southernbelle @ 08/09/2010 12:47:38