ELY residents are being urged to support the fight to save the city s Princess of Wales Hospital. A petition has been launched and copies are being distributed throughout the city for residents to add their signatures. It will be handed to the Cambridgesh
ELY residents are being urged to support the fight to save the city's Princess of Wales Hospital.
A petition has been launched and copies are being distributed throughout the city for residents to add their signatures.
It will be handed to the Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust, which is discussing the hospital's future, and the Government which has called for a review of all community hospitals.
The campaign to secure the hospital's future has already won the backing of Ely mayor, Cllr Ron Bradney, South East Cambridgeshire MP Jim Paice and former East Cambridgeshire and Fenland Primary Care Trust chairman and Ely councillor, Allyson Broadhurst.
The review of the hospital comes just months after two elderly patients' wards were merged and campaigner, Ed Mullenger, who launched the petition, now fears it could be closed down.
"A spouse or relative will, in most cases, be expected to provide care at home, therefore saving the state money, while causing the family great difficulty and stress," said Ed, of High Barns, Ely. "The PCT has already cut the number of beds available for elderly people at the Princess of Wales from 45 to 23 and, with the review of services at the four community hospitals in Cambridgeshire, further cuts are feared.
"Professional care workers are not adequately trained other than for helping to wash, dress and feed people. Where will rehabilitation and nursing treatment be coming from?"
Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust chief executive, Chris Banks, has hinted that the Princess of Wales Hospital could be spared because the growing city is a distance from an acute centre.
He said: "We believe that community-based facilities should be developed in places which are a significant distance from existing acute hospitals."
- The petition is available at Ely library, a number of shops in the city, Costcutters in Little Downham, Witchford Post Office, the One Stop shop in Sutton and online at www.elderprotection.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here