news story

11th June 2008

MP Condemns 'Madness' of New Hospital 'on Doorstep' of Frenchay

Northavon MP Steve Webb has condemned today's announcement of plans to build a new privately run hospital just yards away from Frenchay - which will close as a major hospital under NHS plans. Steve Webb said:

"Most people in our area will be shocked that a new mini-hospital is being built by the private sector to treat NHS patients just yards away from Frenchay - which is set to be bull-dozed in a few years' time. We were told that Frenchay was not needed because everyone could be treated at Southmead, yet now a new hospital is being opened on the doorstep of Frenchay. Most of the money to pay for the new hospital will ultimately come from the NHS, but we would have got better value for money investing the cash in upgrading Frenchay, instead of privatising the NHS.

"With the vast population growth being faced in South Gloucestershire it is more apparent than ever that we need a major NHS hospital at Frenchay. A new private mini-hospital down the road is no substitute for Frenchay".

"I have yet to met a local person whose top priority for health is hospitals competing with each other for patients. Most people want a high quality NHS hospital to serve South Gloucestershire, and that hospital should be Frenchay".


Note: the new 'Independent Sector Treatment Centre' will be built at Emersons Green, just a few hundred yards along the Avon Ring Road from Frenchay.