Anger as campaigners told hospital wards will close
A HARD-FOUGHT year-long battle to save two Wirral hospital wards has been lost.Chief executive of Wirral Hospital Trust, Frank Burns, yesterday announced the decision to shut elderly care Wards 6 and 7 at Victoria Central Hospital in Wallasey.
At a meeting with around 50 staff on the hospital site, Mr Burns said he was sorry campaigners had not managed to persuade the health minister and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to keep the wards open.
Opponents of the ward closure had raised a petition of more than 21,000 names and met with government ministers in their efforts to keep the wards open after it was announced last autumn they faced closure.
Consultation by the PCTs found that 78% of people wanted the wards to stay open.
Mr Burns told staff: "There is no easy way to say this but a decision has been made to close the two wards. From Monday there will be no further admissions and the wards will be wound down.
"Nothing will be done until patients currently on the ward have finished their treatment." Mr Burns assured staff they would be redeployed within the Trust. He said: "I do not underestimate the effect these closures will have on staff. But we will do everything in our power to help them fulfil their aspirations within the trust."
Upset staff and patients said they could not believe the decision to close the ward.
Ward healthcare worker Sandra Curry, from Wallasey, said: "It is disgraceful. The patients are appalled.
"Many of them will have to travel great distances now to be cared for and staff will have to travel for work." Patient Jean Gill, 76, said: "This is a fantastic ward, it is invaluable for the elderly in this area. What will they do now?"
David Laird, a hospital porter and TGWU representative who had led the campaign to save the wards, vowed to fight on.
He said: "Almost 22,000 people signed a petition against these closures and this is a sad day for democracy. But we will continue our campaign and look towards making a case for judicial review."
In July, a group of protesters had met health minister Lord Warner in Whitehall to plead for the future of Wards 6 & 7 at the Victoria Hospital.
In a letter informing local authorities of his decision, health minister Lord Warner
insisted on guarantees from the Strategic Health Authority that the ward would be maintained during winter in case it was necessary to reopen, that any older person who needed treatment would get it, and the situation would be monitored.
Wallasey MP Angela Eagle said: "Decisions like this are never easy to hear - like many other campaigners in Wallasey I am extremely disappointed as I had hoped for further full evaluation, asking the PCT to prove their case for closure more convincingly.
"I do welcome assurances from Lord Warner that he will closely monitor the situation."
Former Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Wallasey, Leah Fraser, said it was "the worst possible news for the people of Wallasey".
She said: "No matter how much the Government's PCT wriggles, the closure of two wards caring for the old and the sick is a callous, heartless cut."
The wards were due to close in April but the decision was delayed as protesters fought to keep them open.
Earlier this year, Wirral Council voted unanimously to oppose plans, but health service managers said they believe the closures will allow them to provide better care for elderly people in their own homes.
The leader of Wirral Council, Steve Foulkes said: "Our initial reaction is one of shock and dismay, and we will be investigating whether there are any alternatives."
Cllr Pat Williams, Lib-Dem chair of Wirral Council's social care and health select committee, said she was not surprised by the decision, and the committee had wanted more reassurance that elderly people would get the care they need.
She said: "I am sure a lot of people are going to be very angry and can understand that."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "Public opinion was considered but the Department of Health is satisfied that arrangements are in place to ensure that there are alternatives to inpatient stays where appropriate and sufficient capacity exists in the Wirral for those elderly people who do need a hospital bed."
In a statement, Wirral's two PCTs said they welcomed the Government's decision to decommission the wards.
John South, acting chief executive for Birkenhead and Wallasey PCT, said: "VCH is a thriving community hospital that will continue to provide essential primary care services to Wirral residents."
And Pauline Johnson, acting chief executive for Bebington and West Wirral PCT, added: "Wirral's healthcare organisations are all reassured their plans for older people's services are endorsed by government decision and policy.
Mr Burns added: "There will now be no further admissions to the beds at VCH and we expect to be in a position to close both wards within the next six weeks. All patients currently receiving care on the wards will complete their treatment and will be discharged as planned."
Article by: Kirsti Adair And Liam Murphy Daily Post Staff, kirstiadair@dailypost.co.uk