News story

26^th January 2001

“SERIOUS RESERVATIONS” ABOUT HOSPITAL MERGER PLANS

Northavon MP Steve Webb has today (Friday 26th) unveiled the results of his mass survey of Northavon residents on the future of Frenchay and Southmead hospitals.   More than 5,000 households told their MP in detail what they thought of plans to replace Frenchay and Southmead with a single hospital on a single site.  The key findings of the report (copies of which will be sent to the North Bristol Trust and to Avon Health) were:

·                roughly two thirds were opposed, whilst around one quarter were in favour;

·                the biggest concern (voiced unprompted by almost 1000 respondents) was that a single hospital could not meet the needs of a large and growing catchment area;

·                another big concern was the problem of getting to a new hospital, whether by car or public transport;  for example, a new site would probably be less convenient for residents in the Yate/Chipping Sodbury area than the existing Frenchay site;

·                people felt strongly that the money which had already been spent at both sites—including money raised charitably—would be wasted if either was demolished;

·                when asked directly, roughly three quarters said that having only one main A&E department would be unacceptable;

Steve Webb’s report on the survey also contains a summary of the six options which the Trust is currently considering.  These include a new hospital on a new site, concentrating all activity on one existing site, and various “split-site” strategies.    The most expensive option would be construction from scratch on a Greenfield site which, it is estimated, would cost around £200 million net of savings from sales of land.  However, the Trust argues that the greater efficiency which this would produce could save over £4 million annually in running costs.  Part of the Trust’s vision is a much greater use of community facilities, including in Thornbury, with the possibility of new facilities in the Yate/Chipping Sodbury area.  

Steve Webb said: “There are elements in the Trust’s proposals which are very welcome—particularly the plan for more health care to be undertaken in local communities.  A new facility in the Yate/ Chipping Sodbury area would be particularly welcome.”

“But my constituents have made it very clear that they have serious reservations about other aspects of what is proposed, particularly whether one hospital is really big enough for this large and growing area.    They clearly oppose reliance on one major A&E Department, they are concerned that access to a new site might be less convenient than at present, and they would want to ask serious questions about the money which has already been spent—particularly the money raised from the public.   I hope that the Trust will now seek to address these concerns as it brings forward its plans for the future.”   ** ENDS **