At
a recent meeting of the Haslar Task Force the members expressed
concern about future hospital provision in the area, and
resolved that they would ask the Fareham and Gosport Primary
Care Trust for a meeting and statement of hospital services
after 31st March 2007.
The Group expressed concern that the Primary Care Trust is currently consulting
about medical services, but has no commitment to take action on the result of
the consultations. Indeed it appears that hospital services are being planned
on the basis that the current level of need is exceptional, and that it will
diminish at some point in the future. For example, there are currently 21 operating
theatres available at QA and Haslar. After 2007 the Hospitals Trust is planning
to have 12.
The Chairman of the Haslar Task Force, Peter Viggers, explained today:
“ We are inviting the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Primary Care
Trust to meet us. At present the Ministry of Defence plans to withdraw from the
management
of Haslar Hospital after 31st March 2007. There have been statements from the
Hospitals Trust that hospital services will continue to be provided, but we have
no firm commitment and no information about funding.
The Primary Care Trust and the Hospitals Trust both stress their commitment to
consultation, but neither seem prepared to accept that the overwhelming local
demand is for a long-term commitment to the retention of Haslar. On the contrary,
both the Hospitals Trust and the Primary Care Trust seem more interested in exploring
alternative ways of providing hospital services.”
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