MEETINGS between health leaders, campaigners and local councillors to address public concerns about services at St Cross Hospital will become a regular fixture.
Rugby’s MP John Slinger chaired the first such meeting to address concerns about the impending closure of the hospital’s 25-bed Hoskyn Ward on December 4 – which prompted a second ‘March for St Cross’ in Rugby last weekend.
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust has said access to medical inpatient beds at the hospital will remain the same for Rugby and Warwickshire patients.
But campaigners fear the loss of the ward will put people’s lives at risk due to a lack of available beds across the Trust.
A day before the march, the meeting heard from local NHS leaders about the ward closure and their long-term plans for the hospital and services for local residents.
Professor Andy Hardy, the CEO of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, gave a presentation about the Trust’s decision to close the ward, and longer-term investment plans for the hospital.
Mr Slinger said: “I convened the meeting to make sure that Rugby’s elected representatives, local community health groups and the organisers of the march had an opportunity to hear directly from those responsible for running our local health services about their decisions and plans – as well as to question them.
“The meeting was a full and frank discussion of both the circumstances surrounding Hoskyn Ward but also the opportunities to improve healthcare in Rugby. We agreed that it’s vital to communicate as effectively as possible with the public and have therefore agreed to further meetings like this one.”
Organisers said the march, which took place in Rugby town centre on Saturday (November 16), was being held to voice residents’ ‘displeasure and anger’ over the closure of the ward, following a similar protest last month.
Organiser Tom Crinigan said: “To plan such a closure at a time when there will be greater demand due to winter pressures is madness.
“The planned closure was announced ‘through the backdoor’ without any proper consultation. None of the plans being drawn up by the Trust have been put to the people of Rugby for their views.
“This is what we are demanding now. Every bed needs to be defended.”
Following the announcement of the plan to close Hoskyn Ward, a UHCW spokesperson said the closure would not affect patients from Rugby, adding: “Following the introduction of a pathway for Coventry patients that avoids the need for them to transfer to Rugby, the Trust has seen a significant reduction in the demand for transfers to St Cross.
“It is important to note that access to medical inpatient beds will remain the same for Rugby and Warwickshire patients at St Cross.”
Professor Hardy added: “This planned change does not mean less access to medical beds for Rugby and Warwickshire patients – we remain fully committed to offering more services and investing into the future of the Hospital of St Cross.”
