Closure fears at Cannock Hospital meeting
Patients and staff who packed a public meeting about the future of Cannock Hospital were told that there are no imminent plans to close it.
But hospital bosses did admit just 40 per cent of the building was occupied and the future level of services was "out of their hands".
Independent regulator Monitor has launched a review into services provided through Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust with the results expected next spring.
Calls have since been made for more ways to utilise Cannock Hospital to help safeguard its future.
The meeting, held at the council house last night, was told the hospital was like a "five-bedroom house with one person in it".
MP Aidan Burley, who chaired the meeting, has called for the council to investigate the feasibility of buying a controlling stake in the hospital. But deputy council leader Janos Toth said this could lead to council tax being tripled.
The empty space was blamed on less people having to spend days on wards.
Trust chief executive Lyn Hill-Tout told the meeting she wanted to dispel rumours there were plans to close the hospital although accepted it was nowhere near to capacity.
She said the outcome of the review by Monitor was "out of their hands"
