Save our services

Deputy chairman Derek Lacey, said at the council's meeting on Tuesday: "My concern is Amersham Hospital. There are many rumours going around suggesting the Trust is considering closing the outpatients department next year. At the moment the hospital has 45 clinics with 40 patients each. My concern is where are these people going to go?"
Cllr Lacey, who is a patient at four clinics at the hospital, added: "We would rather not go to Stoke Mandeville or Wycombe Hospital, we would prefer Amersham because its our local hospital where people can go quite quickly.
"It will affect us all today, tomorrow, next year."
Earlier this month the Examiner reported on proposals to make the hospital a focus for 'non-acute care' and how rheumatology, pain clinics, diabetic and ambulatory care provisions may be centralised to reduce costs. The Trust, which recorded a deficit of £2.75million this year, said it was still finalising plans and intended to move care closer to patients' homes in a GP or community setting.
Cllr Davida Allen said: "That local hospital has changed enormously over the last few years. I don't know of any ill person who stays there. The mental units have gone. We have office staff from a wide area coming in and not helping with the traffic situation in the Old Town. It seems the only way of caring for the public is at these clinics people go to."
Today the Examiner launches a campaign to keep services provided on a local level at Amersham Hospital and to not move them further afield, leaving
Cheryl Gillan, MP for Chesham and Amersham, said:" I understand the cost pressures facing local health services and I am in favour of any moves to make service delivery more efficient. However, should any proposed changes have a detrimental effect on these vital services, I will be standing up for my constituents."
A spokesman for Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust said the five-year strategy is sill under discussion and a final decision has yet to be taken by its board.
Do you support our Save Our Services campaign? Let us know if changes will affect you by leaving a comment below.