The League of Friends of Fairford Hospital Chairman's Report 2006

The League of Friends
of Fairford Hospital

( Reg. Charity No: 1006416 )

CHAIRMAN'S LETTER JUNE 2007
Option 4 The leading article on the front page of The Standard on the 31st May, based on a press release issued by Jan Stubbings, Chief Executive of the Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, stated that the PCT was not supporting the commissioning of nursing beds in a proposed new medical facility based in Fairford. I feel it is important that all those who so generously support the League with donations know what has happened. The fear that the loss of beds at Fairford Hospital would hamper the League’s capacity to continue to support the Health Service has not yet been realised. The annual house-to-house collection this year raised over £18,000 which is only marginally down on previous years. In the past two years, the League spent over £56,000 each year on health care in Fairford, Lechlade and the surrounding villages. This would not have been possible without our generous donors. Since January 2006 the League has worked closely with the PCT towards the building of a new facility in Fairford. The League has at all times remained dedicated to the project and has put in a great deal of hard work, encouraged by the overtly positive attitude of the PCT.	Last summer the PCT indicated that their requirement was for ‘Intermediate Care’ beds which did not exist elsewhere in the South Cotswolds. These beds provide a level of care helping patients either ‘step down’ from a General Hospital admission or ‘step up’ for those needing help to remain in their own homes. Accepting this requirement, the plans and likely costings for the new facility were presented to the local GPs – in the form of the South Cotswold Commissioning Group. The GPs indicated that they would support the proposals given that the costings for the required level of care were favourable. This was a major step forward. The League rejects a number of the arguments and supporting statistics being put forward by the PCT, in particular with regard to Intermediate Care beds. Nevertheless discussions with the PCT continue and it is hoped that something positive will emerge. In the meantime the League of Friends remains dedicated to the provision of new and improved health care facilities for this area of SE Gloucestershire. *David Phillips* – Chairman, The League of Friends of Fairford Hospital.