LOCAL residents concerned about the future of Alton Community Hospital are being urged to turn out for a public meeting next Wednesday to participate in the debate. GPs are keen that as many people as possible converge on Alton Assembly Rooms at 7-30 pm for a meeting with members of the North Hampshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), which is responsible for the hospital wards. Fears for the future of the hospital have arisen following the sudden closure, in July, of the 24-bed Inwood Ward - a move which has triggered alarm bells, especially among those who fought so hard to keep the former Treloars Hospital alive, only to eventually lose the battle. Concerned that apathy could leave the way clear for a similar clinical dismembering of Alton Community Hospital until it becomes unviable, a band of Altonians have already met to draw up a campaign plan. They have formed the Inwood Ward Action Group (IWAG) which aims to fight the ward closure and to look at ways of forging a positive future for the hospital as a whole. And they want other members of the community to come on board. The public meeting will be chaired by Alton mayor Paddy Mendham. Speakers will include deputy director of North Hampshire PCT Richard Samuels and chief executive Debbie Glenn, local GP Philip Hopwood and retired GP Hugh Bethell. The aim, according to Dr Bethell, will be to inform the people of Alton and the surrounding areas of the reasons behind the closure of Inwood Ward and what can be done to re-open it. Also to get the message across to the PCT that Alton will not accept permanent closure of the ward. The meeting will also provide a platform for members of the public to put their views and ideas across, including tributes to the value of Inwood ward to the local community. All are welcome.
