Wandsworth NHS should be brought under democratic control, say Lib Dems

5.34.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 17th Oct 2008

Wandsworth NHS Primary Care Trust, which commissions health services for Borough, should be brought under democratic control, say local Liberal Democrats. This follows the announcement of £4 million extra spending due to financial surpluses, after saying they could not afford to maintain services at Bolingbroke Hospital. "Important changes are happening in local NHS services, but local people are getting little or no say," says Matthew Green, Chair of Battersea & Tooting Lib Dems, "and we keep getting different stories about the state of finances. Meanwhile the Audit Commission rates the local finances as 'good' but quality of care as only 'fair' - surely the wrong way round in a properly prioritised service."

Wandsworth PCT say that the will spend the extra £4 million on a number of things, including improved GP surgeries and school nursing. This follows a long-term plan to develop new facilities in Battersea, including a new polyclinic (multi-purpose health centre) in Grant Road near Clapham Junction station. The idea of developing Bolingbroke Hospital into a community facility like Queen Mary's in Roehampton was rejected, however, although some health facilities may return to the site in the long-term.

"The Bolingbroke community hospital idea was not taken seriously by the local NHS, in spite of it being official policy a few years ago," says Matthew Green "Instead we were treated to politically inept local NHS officials saying that the area was too posh. But if the middle classes desert the NHS, it will collapse. We badly need some political nous in running the local NHS."

Related Links:

Wandsworth PCT annouces £4m extra spending.

Wandsworth PCT audit commission ratings.