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Greg Mulholland-Working Hard For Leeds North WestSupport Wharfedale Hospital Campaign hands over letter of protest against Ward closure
May 27, 2011 5:26 PM
On behalf of the people of Otley and surrounding areas, campaigners from the Support Wharfedale Hospital Campaign today handed over a letter of protest to the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, in response to the news that Ward 1, the only remaining elderly care ward at Wharfedale Hospital, will no longer be used by the Trust as a ward for the care of older people.
The letter of protest was handed over to the Chief Nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Ruth Holt, on behalf of the community Support Wharfedale Hospital Campaign including city and town councillors from across the political divide as well as staff at the hospital and Mr Mulholland as the town's MP and founder of the Campaign. The letter expressed the local community's serious concern that the Hospitals Trust will no longer continue to run Ward 1 and urged the trust to ensure that the ward continues to be used, run by the NHS and serving local people, ideally as an elderly patients ward.
The Campaign, which formed ahead of the last ward closure at Wharfedale Hospital, have expressed their concern at the lack of public consultation ahead of the decision to place the future of Ward 1 under review. There is concern that history is repeating itself after the closure of the other older people's ward at the end of 2006 in a storm of protest following a complete lack of consultation with staff or the local community leading to over 5,000 people signing a petition.
The Campaign are calling on the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust to work with the Primary Care Trust, NHS Leeds, to ensure that the ward remains as an overnight NHS facility, otherwise warning that the hospital will be in reality an outpatient clinic, which is not what the people of Otley campaigned so hard for.
Greg commented:
"It is hugely concerning for both the residents of Otley, as well as staff at the hospital, that Ward 1 at Wharfedale Hospital could be set to close.
"The Support Wharfedale Hospital Campaign have today taken the opportunity to raise these concerns with the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust by presenting them with a letter of protest, expressing our concerns and calling on the Trust to find a way to ensure the ward continues to be run by the NHS and ideally as an elderly patient ward.
"People in and around Otley fought tooth and nail to save their hospital and were promised a genuine hospital, including inpatient care for local people. If Ward 1 goes, then the fear is the hospital will be little more than a glorified clinic, which is not what people campaigned for and local people will simply not stand for that".
Local NHS campaigner and supporter of the Support Wharfedale Hospital Campaign, Charlie McEwan Said:
"This is our local hospital. It should offer jobs for local people and It should serve the needs of the local community. They should be investing in the facilities so recently rebuilt or at the very least retaining what there is. If we lose this ward I fear the days of this as an NHS hospital are numbered."
Leeds City Councillor and former Otley GP, Cllr Dr Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem) Said:
"Having been a G.P for 35 years I know all the people in the Otley district will be devastated. It will be extremely distressing for people from Otley to have to travel to Leeds for treatment'
Leeds City Councillor, Ryk Downes (Lib Dem) said:
"It's about maintaining local services for the most vulnerable members of society.
"I hope the Trust take on board the concerns that have been raised by the Support Wharfedale Hospital Campaign this morning and will look again at their decision. It is so important they show a willingness to listen to local residents who have made clear their opposition to its closure."
Leeds City Councillor, Colin Campbell (Lib Dem) said:
"It's essential that it be kept open, as Wharfedale Hospital needs to continue providing care for the elderly"
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