Rowen slams health trust antics

Rochdale MP - Paul Rowen has slammed the antics of the Pennine Acute Trust, after it appeared that fears over Rochdale Infirmary's Inpatient Urology Services were well founded, despite initial denials from senior health bosses.  The Acute Pennine Trust are planning to move Urology Services to Oldham from 6 November 2006, leading to the loss of 8 beds and a yet unknown number of nursing staff will be moved from Rochdale Infirmary to the Royal Oldham Hospital.  Staff will asked to 'volunteer' to move to Oldham in the light of these plans.
 
Paul Rowen MP said: "This is a disgrace, yet again Rochdale is being sold down the river by health bosses determined to move services brick by brick away from Rochdale.  The continuing antics of the Acute Pennine Trust is deplorable, only last week I received a clear assurance from John Williams, Project Director for the Consultations at the Health Authority that Urology Services will stay at Rochdale Infirmary until at least the outcome of the consultation.  He claimed he knew nothing about these plans and yet just days later staff receive confirmation that this is actually true. 

What is going on? 

The Acute Pennine Trust should communicate properly, it seems to me that when decisions are made, rumours are allowed to circulate, the press allowed to report and then finally the most important people of all, the staff are then summoned to meetings to have plans explained to them.  This is no way to run a circus, never mind a multi-million pound Health Trust that makes vital decisions that affect people's lives. 

Answers are needed and needed now, I will be reporting this matter to Sir Ian Hall who is in charge of supervising the consultations to alert him.  It is his job to makie sure that the Consultations are done in a fair and independent way. 

 These bosses plans are not in fitting with this and I would hope that he takes action."
 
Veteran Rochdale Campaigner and former MP - Sir Cyril Smith said, "This just goes to prove that what I have been saying for the last 12 months is true.  Health Bosses say that they have consulted but Rochdale is facing a degrade in services.  At best a community hospital and at worst a cottage hospital.  This is an utter disgrace!"

Responding to Paul Rowen's criticism John Williams said: "During my two recent conversations with Mr Rowen I did as reported reassure him that 'urology Services will stay at Rochdale Infirmary until at least the outcome of the consultation'. Mr Rowen fails to mention however that I also informed him of the work currently being undertaken by Pennine Acute Trust to plan and prepare for the possible outcomes of the consultation and that this was the purpose of a number of meetings currently taking place. Mr Rowen agreed that this was an appropriate course of action and, indeed, told me that he would expect any competent organisation to be doing this at this time."