'More local care' in health plans

The hospital trust has been rated as weak for four successive years

More Cornish hospital patients are to be treated nearer their homes and waiting times shortened as part of a new strategy, county health bosses say.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust's (RCHT) five-year plan is an attempt to restore its reputation after being rated "weak" for four successive years.

Critics said fresh staff and ideas were needed to deal with problems.

The trust said it was to consult with people across the county over the next three months about the strategy.

Trust officials admit it has had a troubled history. Its debts stand at £42m and its most recent rating of "weak" was from the Care Quality Commission last month.

ROYAL CORNWALL HOSPITAL New chemotherapy unit New critical care unit Dedicated operating theatre for children

But the trust said its long-term plans for 2010-2014 would see new buildings at its Treliske site, including the demolition of its ageing tower block, and the promise of "vibrant" hospital in Penzance.

The trust also plans to treat more patients with eyesight and obesity problems at various local hospitals to save them travelling out of Cornwall.

RCHT chief executive Peter Colclough said: "We're already working very hard on the things that are needed to improve our Care Quality Commission rating."

He added the trust was expecting to make an £8m surplus this year, and be able to officially show that services were improving.

WEST CORNWALL HOSPITAL New skin cancer services Cataract surgery Wet age related macular degeneration treatment

However Joe McKenna, from the campaign group Health Initiative in Cornwall, said new people were needed for such strategies and to improve services.

He said: "In order to free them [trust managers] up to do that we need to pull another team in who should be looking at what the health requirements in Cornwall are for five, 10, and 15 years' time."

Mr Colclough said that Penzance's West Cornwall Hospital would be a "vibrant, local hospital" under the strategy.

However, its casualty unit will not have a doctor 24 hours a day because the trust said few patients had treatment overnight. A doctor will be on duty from 0900 until 2300 GMT.

St Michael's Hospital in Hayle will expand as a centre for breast and orthopaedic surgery, the trust said.

The trust added that it planned to apply for foundation status next year.