Swaffham Community Hospital

Fighting to save the Hospital from closure

The Swaffham Community Hospital situated in the West of Norfolk was one of nine potential sites brought into a consultation document by the new Norfolk NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) with the view of overhauling Intermediate Care throughout the county. A new policy of "care in the home" was to be introduced, with teams of trained staff visiting patients after discharge from acute care, to reduce the number of intermediate beds.

The Norfolk NHS Primary Care Trust was formulated in October 2006 after the Government stated that all counties were to amalgamate their Primary Care Trusts into one. Frequently, this resulted in huge budget debts. Norfolk inherited a debt of £43 million.

The first public meeting of the new Board attracted a large public audience from across the county, many of who wished to vent their anger over the proposed cuts and threat of closure. Despite the League's intervention at the meeting, the Board seemed both unwilling and unable to answer many of the questions. There was disagreement over the number of intermediate beds there are in the county and the PCT placed a freeze on recruitment. The PCT decided to hold a series of public consultation meetings throughout the county asking members of the public for their views.

The Chairman of the League called a general meeting to discuss the matter and plan its strategy to tackle the proposed plans. In conjunction with the King's Lynn News, who have long been supporters of the League's work, a signature petition was organised. Radio interviews were carried out to highlight the concerns and support was gathered from all the Town's people including Christopher Fraser, West Norfolk's MP and Baroness Gillian Shephard, the League of Friends Patron. A Public Meeting was held in Swaffham, Chaired by Christopher Fraser. Emotions ran high amongst the 350 members who attended; however, much support was given to the League continuing the campaign as few present had much faith in the PCT or their plans.

A petition of 7000 signatures was presented to the PCT Board at their March 2007 meeting. At the meeting anyone involved in individual campaigns from the nine sites had the opportunity to state their views, but many questions were still left unanswered. Trained staff found new employment, unable to cope with uncertainty over their futures, and the remaining staff worked harder to uphold the high level of nursing on which the hospital prides itself.

Instead of public demonstrations, The League felt continuing consultation would produce better results and commissioned two specialist consultants from Warwick University to challenge the Intermediate Care document. This was necessary. After much work, many flaws in the document were highlighted. When presented with this, the PCT proposed to reclassify the problem Intermediate beds as Supported beds. These plans were finally scrapped after the League illustrated that beds in the Hospital were currently running at 90% occupancy. They allowed staff recruitment to begin again and decided not to review their decisions until later on.

The League and Christopher Fraser MP have been continued to be in talks with the PCT and the possibility of a new building for the hospital has been raised. Things are looking brighter for the people of Swaffham and their Community Hospital. And no small thanks must go to the League and its dedicated Chairman David Gulliver.

Quotes

“The League of Friends are committed to playing a major role in the future of Health and Care in Swaffham and will continue to represent the views of the population at meetings which are taking place to assist the Board of National Health Service Norfolk (NHS) and Swaffham Town Council to come to a final decision on the future of the existing hospital and the services that are currently commissioned from it at present. There is a need to ensure we are prepared for the ever-changing NHS so that future services meet the needs of the increasing population.” — David Gulliver, Chairman of the Swaffham Hospital League of Friends

“We have an active and closely-involved League of Friends at the Hospital, chaired by David Gulliver. They have raised a great deal of money,which has been used to improve conditions and provide equipment for thepatients at the Hospital.” — Dr Bob Dorling, Chair of Swaffham Hospital Clinical Management Team