ASSURANCES have been given by health chiefs that plans to close the MacIlwain ward at the Chase Community Hospital are not the first step towards its closure.
At a packed public meeting last Friday angry pleas were made for local health providers to think again over controversial plans to axe the community hospitalÕs only ward.
Fears were also expressed that the proposals were going to put the hospital on the road to closure but residents were told that there was no intention to close the hospital.
The meeting in the Forest Community Centre was organised as part of the public consultation over the contentious proposals for the hospital.
More than 100 residents packed in the centreÕs main hall to listen to the reasoning behind the proposals in a presentation by health chiefs who then heard tale after tale about the hardship the plans will have on Bordon and its surrounding villages.
Many pointed out that by public transport it takes four hours to get to the North Hampshire Hospital in Basingstoke and that many would be unable to visit loved ones who were in-patients on a daily basis if they were moved away from Bordon.
Among those who spoke out were David Marshall who said the plans were Òdamaging to the interests of patientsÓ.
He said: ÒSuspicion exists in the local community that the current proposals relating to the future of the Chase Hospital could be only the initial phase of a general medium to long-term strategy leading to the eventual closure, and possible disposal, of a first class local clinical amenity.Ó
To many the case of the Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital in Alton, which eventually closed last year despite local opposition, was fresh in their minds.
However, director of planning at the North Hampshire PCT Peter Kelly attempted to allay these fears and said that this was not the case with the Bordon hospital.
ÒIt is not our intention to close the ChaseÓ he said.
He explained that under government instructions the health authority had to Òbalance the booksÓ and make annual savings of £6.2 million - of which north Hampshire had to find £3.6 million to bring it out of the red.
Mr Kelly explained that the governmentÕs funding formula meant that north and mid Hampshire was only receiving 83 per cent of the funding that it should its population.
This is because the area is classified by the government as being Òhealthy and wealthyÓ meaning that some of the funds that the local health service should be receiving is instead diverted to more deprived areas which have comparatively poor health.
ÒRepresentation has been made to see if we can get this changed although it has been reviewed and used by successive administrations for a number of yearsÓ Mr Kelly said.
He explained that the funding formula did not take into account the fact that the cost of living in the north Hampshire area was relatively high making it more difficult to recruit staff and keep costs down.
ÒDespite the fact that we are unhappy we have been given our slice of the cake and from that we have to provide a health service, but we have a statutory obligation to balance the books.
ÒPerhaps if we did not have to make these savings we would not have looked at closing these beds.Ó
The health planner explained that if the proposals were to be given the go-ahead then the ward could close on April 1, 2002, saving £509,500, although he explained that a new Community Intensive Support Service will be in place to care for patients at home.
The hope is that the CISS initiative will alleviate the bed-blocking problem and mean that the beds at the Chase are no longer needed.
He said that the ChaseÕs ward would then be Òmoth balledÓ until a new use for it is agreed. Among the proposals for new services are increased out-patient facilities and a residential care facility.
Despite Mr KellyÕs explanation that the local health services had no choice but to save money, many thought that the health authority and PCT should join together with local MPs and ask for more cash to avert the cost-cutting measures.
Among those who commented was Lord Selborne who said that the plans should be shelved in favour of a campaign to increase the amount of funding received from the government.
He said: ÒUnfortunately you canÕt make promises on services by using a funding formula which makes no sense.Ó
Other speakers said that the proposals at the Chase were yet another example of Bordon being singled out.
On Monday Whitehill Town Council decided to set up a working party to carry out research into the proposals.
Zoya Faddy said: ÒWe need to get factual information. There is no point in fighting this on emotions. We need hard facts and figures to form our case.Ó
r East Hampshire District Council is also intending to examine the proposals in detail later this month where residents will get the chance to quiz the PCT chief executive Gill Duncan for the first time.
The north east area community committee will look at the plans at its public meeting at Liphook Village Hall on November 20 starting at 6-30 pm.