Zero Wrote:From PB.org:-
Quote:The local Health Trust has decided to close one of the wards at Potters Bar Community Hospital to save money. It means 15 of the 45 beds will go, leaving only 30 beds: many local people feel the hospital will not then be viable so this decision could prepare the way for complete closure.
Full Story Here
It is not as the SoS states a "local issue". It is a funding issue. And Central Government is responsible for funding. Where the clever side step comes in is that allocation is the reponsibility of The Trust. So government ministers can keep the whole matter at arms lenth by refering all questions to the trust, rather than address the underfunding issue.
This birth of the new PB Hospital from the ashes of Tesco's car park was loudly proclaimed as one of the best examples of private capital working with a local community for both of their benefits.
Now despite current government policy being to create more facilities along the lines of PBH, our hospital , despite numerous capital investments from the private sector and other major hospitals is being allowed to wither for the lack of operational funding. I suppose eventually when the government sees the increased cost of treating people in central London teaching hospitals it will wake up and smell the coffee. Though probably not as they will be out of office by then.