New name for Stafford Hospital
Troubled Stafford Hospital will definitely change its name - with four possibilities in contention, it can be revealed.
The County Hospital is the preferred choice, according to campaigners, with Coton Hill, Weston Road and Izaak Walton also under consideration.
Councillors say they are the concerned the favoured name makes the facility sound like a cottage hospital and feel it downgrades it further.
See also: Dozens quit amid Stafford Hospital staff crisis.
Hospital staff were asked in May for name suggestions as part of the shake-up of services that will see Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust dissolved in November. Maternity and children's services will be moved to Stoke in the next few months.
Bosses at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire say the word Stafford holds negative connotations and they also want to change the name to ease staff recruitment problems.
But Cannock Chase Council leader George Adamson said today: "The County Hospital sounds like a proper downgrade of Stafford Hospital.
See also: Children's ward axed at Stafford Hospital.
"It sounds like a throwback to the 1950s, like a cottage hospital. It's a shame. The name Stafford Hospital was held with a lot of affection by the people of Stafford."
But Support Stafford Hospital campaigner Julian Porter said she was in favour of the name change and the preferred choice.
He said: "We are the county town in Staffordshire so we are pleased with the preferred name.
"If it helps with recruitment and retention of staff then so be it. It's a shame people think 'Stafford' in the name is something toxic.
"I find that really sad. It doesn't matter what it is called as long it delivers a good service at the end of the day."
Chief executive of UHNS, Mark Hackett, said there was 'no question' the hospital's name was affecting the ability to take on enough new workers, adding: "We are going to have to change the names of the hospital in the trust because I don't think Stafford helps at all."
See also: MP: 'Views of 40,000 residents left out' in Stafford Hospital shake-up.
At the end of this month UHNS will unveil its final plans for the hospital shake-up, including Stafford Hospital's new name.
Scores of campaigners are still camped outside the hospital in opposition to the major changes being proposed.
They have written to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt calling for an urgent meeting to discuss maternity and children's services.
