Karen <ka...@randolph-watson.co.uk>

Just to draw everybody's attention to an excellent article by Libby P
in yesterday's Times, publicising the lack of response from their PCT
to the local community's solution to keep the beds at Aldeburgh Cottage
Hospital open.  Our problem is similar, if a few years down the line,
to theirs: we also have received no support from our PCT to a local
initiative several years ago (supported and encouraged at that time by
the relevant NHS body) which came up with a similar 'solution', thereby
saving the NHS from any capital expenditure.  Our 'solution' involved a
private nursing home provider rather than a charitable trust providing
and staffing a wing for inpatient intermediate care/rehabilitation.
Fat lot of good it did us!  To the range of excuses and erroneous
'reasons'  (which we have demolished) produced to 'justify' their lack
of support, the PCT now claim that, as the facility is not 'one of
theirs' (ie they don't own the bricks and mortar) they cannot support
it.  With hind sight our mistake was in not getting a long term
commitment from the NHS - but would any PCT be prepared to enter into
such an agreement in the present climate?

Lets hope that Libby's article is the start of a higher profile for
this issue - perhaps we should  join in the debate in the Times!