Hospital bosses have said that plans to move the much acclaimed stroke unit at Christchurch hospital is not the pre-cursor to closing the hospital. Interested parties feared that the re-location of the unit to Royal Bournemouth would ultimately lead to a progressive run down of the towns hospital.  The hospital includes specialised cancer care including Macmillan unit, pathology, x-ray, orthopaedic and geriatric services.

Chief executive of Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust, Tony Spotiswood, told a public meeting in the council chamber that htere was no hidden message.  There were no plans to close the Christchurch hospital and that it had a unique reputation that the Trust wanted to retain.

Over 70 members of the public attended the meeting and heard the ambitous plans at both hospitals over the next five years from Tony Spotiswood and consultant for elderly medicine, Dr. Andrew Williams.

The £10 million project's  goal is to create by 2011 a purpose built stroke unit which will combine acute care and rehabilitation services at the Royal Bournemouth's site.  The space now created at Christchurch hospital would be used to accommodate cancer patients whilst the Macmillan unit is upgraded.  Also to replace the bedspaces on the outdated wards in the older part of the hospital still using the "Nightingale" ward layout.

Locals feared that the proposals would mean an end to a more caring, personal touch that a small local unit gives.  Also that a local stroke unit would disappear amongst the busier and bigger Royal Bournemouth hospital.

Tony Spotiswood flatly denied that the hospital would eventually close and said that the key features at Christchurch would be upgraded and maintained whilst stroke patient care and associated services would be much improved being located at Bournemouth.

Last update : 17-02-2008 20:12

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