Express & Star

MP slams Stafford Hospital closure and housing rumours

No land within Stafford's hospital has been earmarked for housing amid rumours it will close, says the town's MP.

Published

Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy has branded speculation that the newly named County Hospital will shut 'absolute nonsense'.

Up to 100 people attended a public meeting organised by Mr Lefroy following a leaked KPMG report, which showed health services in the county were facing a £217 million deficit in four years.

It was also held following rumours County Hospital will be downsized to an elective and rehabilitation centre or even closed with the possible sell off of land.

Prime Minister David Cameron has already come out to reveal he was 'furious' over persistent speculation Stafford was going to close down and insisted that it had a 'bright future.'

Mr Lefroy has also hit back at the findings in the report saying it was compiled before the shake-up of health services last November.

At the meeting at Oddfellows Hall on Friday night, he told the audience: "There has been claims that the hospital will be closed or privitised which are frankly absolute nonsense. I would urge people not to go on peddling myths about closure or privatisation."

Stafford Borough Council leader Patrick Farrington leader said it had been suggested land had been 'zoned' for homes. But he told the meeting: "None of the land at Stafford hospital is included in the local plan for housing."

Speaking after the meeting, health campaigner Graham Powell, aged 63, from Penkridge, said he felt for reassured.

"At the present time I am reassured but long-term I don't know," he said.

The leaked report comes as it emerged it cost almost £20 million to send special administrators in to overhaul Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Health regulator Monitor, who appointed the administrators, originally budgeted £15.25m for the work but the timescale had to be extended twice.

The administration process, led by Alan Bloom, Alan Hudson, and Dr Hugo Mascie-Taylor, ended in November and has seen a downgrade of Stafford's A&E, maternity and children's departments.

The hospital is now run by the new University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust after a merger with the University Hospital of North Staffordshire Trust.

The total cost was £19.5m. That figure covered work to find and implement a solution to the problems at the trust – £17.35m – and £2.15m was paid to the administrators to run County Hospital in Stafford and Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.