Aylsham Hospital - The Plot Thickens as Bed Numbers Are Increased!

5.30.49pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 7th Aug 2008

THE Plot thickens in the continuing battle to keep St Michael's Community Hospital in Aylsham open.

April Pond, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Broadland, who has been fighting alongside staff and local people to keep the hospital open explains: "Having been told some 18 months ago by Norfolk Primary Care Trust that St Michael's was earmarked for closure mainly because "it did not have the ability to increase in size" - it has transpired that suddenly in the next 10 days, it will amazingly increase patient numbers by more than one third to 34 patients!"

April added: "This clearly demonstrates the need to keep St Michael's open, and the flexibility it has to accept more patients. I hope the P.C.T. recognises the value of this hospital - especially as if we hadn't campaigned so hard it would now be closed, where would these patients be then?"

"I feel quite angry on behalf of the staff who have had this sprung on them with no notice at a time when they are already under huge stress with the possibility of closure and job loss hanging over them."

The Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (H.O.S.C.) has three times deferred the closure. They are due to meet and make a final decision on Thursday 4th September. They have the power to send the decision to be looked at by the Secretary of State for Health.