NHS must discuss clinics with public
9:10am Monday 26th October 2009 in Search
FOLLOWING recent letters on the subject of the Little Lever Health Centre, I think it is unlikely that the new centre will ever be built.
NHS Bolton, the Primary Care Trust, is currently struggling to balance the books. It is attempting to save £13 million and, as part of this, is rescheduling the remaining six health centres from completion in 2011 to 2015.
Given the recent down-rating of the PCT’s performance from “good” to “fair” and the prospect of further cuts in funding in the next few years, it is difficult to see how balancing the books is going to become easier.
Frontline services are going to be given a higher priority than the replacement of buildings, most of which are in a perfectly serviceable state, albeit they are apparently not big enough for their planned functions.
The annual cost of leasing back all 10 centres, should they ever be completed, would be £10million per year for the next 25 years — £250 million in total. This colossal figure presents an obvious target for saving money.
Even with the best intentions in the world, the construction of these buildings seems to have become an end in itself.
By their own admission, the PCT has no agreement with doctors and other health professionals that they are even going to occupy the buildings, which appears to be putting the cart before the horse.
The existing Little Lever health centre is currently being fitted with a new roof at a cost, I understand, of £140,000.
My suggestion is that completely refurbishing the building and extending it to the back of the car park, thus nearly doubling its’ size, could be achieved for probably a tenth of the cost of leasing a new centre for 25 years.
One recent correspondent remarked that the loss of the 10 car parking spaces could not be afforded. But the health centre car park is already filled by doctors and staff, and all the patients park on the community centre car park.
In any event, the council could make part of the rear field available to compensate.
Therefore, would it not be a financially responsible decision, in times of economic constraint, to upgrade the existing building for £2.5 million and give it another twenty five years of life — rather than to commit to spending £25 million, which they are not likely to be able to afford over the same time period?
The one scandal in this whole thing is that the views, wishes and requirements of the most important people — the doctors — are unknown.
It was suggested at the recent public meeting that they have been instructed not to engage in public discussion. If this is true, it is completely unacceptable.
Finally, the PCT says that is accountable to the people of Bolton. It is difficult to see how this accountability takes effect.
A further public meeting is required which, this time round, the PCT must attend.
It must account for its proposals to deal with Little Lever health centre now — not in six years from now, if at all.
Finally, Bolton Council, from the very top, must make it clear to the PCT that this cavalier treatment of Little Lever residents will not be tolerated.
Paul Richardson Ripon Close Little Lever
