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Public get say on health plans

From the Abingdon Herald, first published Thursday 27th Jul 2006.

THE people of Abingdon and Wantage will get their say on the future of healthcare in the district following fears they could be left out of talks.

Despite proposals to possibly close Wantage Hospital and reduce services at Abingdon, the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust did not originally include the two towns on a list of places where residents would be consulted.

But the trust has announced it will stage public meetings in both towns to seek residents' opinions on the future direction of health services and the impact changes in Oxford might have on community hospitals.

Current thinking among the health authorities is that Wantage and Henley hospitals should close, Abingdon may be downgraded to a day care centre, Didcot would become a maternity unit and that Wallingford should be expanded to a 60-bed unit.

Alison Rooke, Vale district councillor and leader of Abingdon Town Council, said: "I am very pleased to hear that we have been able to work out a programme for meetings here, which will give everyone the chance to air their views and to influence the future for our community and acute hospitals."

She added: "I know the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust sees community hospitals as an important part of their service and I hope we can take something positive from these meetings to the primary care trusts (PCTs) to encourage them to think again on any plans they may have to close the hospitals in Abingdon or Wantage."

Vale district and Wantage town councillor Jenny Hannaby said: "This is very welcome for Wantage. It is important we meet with the trust and the PCTs to let them know the strength of feeling which exists in the town.

"We need local services capable of serving our communities.

"Vale residents are already very worried about possible hospital closures."

The trust held a meeting in Abingdon last month, which councillors say was poorly attended because little advance notice was given.

Mrs Hannaby said: "The meetings must be well advertised to give residents the chance to air their views."

A trust spokesman said: "The people of Abingdon and Wantage have not been forgotten far from it and one meeting has already been held in Abingdon."

The ideas will go out to public consultation between September and January.

A jointly-organised petition has already attracted 30,000 signatures, with residents wanting all hospitals to remain open.

The public consulation meeting will take place in Wantage on Thursday, August 24, at the Civic Hall at 6.30pm. Details of the Abingdon meeting have yet to be confirmed.

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