Meeting confirms hospital closure

St Michael's Hospital is to close by 2009

A community hospital that specialises in orthopaedics is to close to save money despite protests by local people.

Norfolk Primary Care Trust's board has confirmed their decision, announced last week, to axe St Michael's Hospital in Aylsham in two years time.

The hospital's work will be carried out by community-based staff in future.

The board also agreed to close 11 of the 13 NHS beds at Cranmer House a respite care unit in Fakenham owned and run by Norfolk County Council.

Opponents of the closure attended a two-hour meeting with members of the Norfolk Primary Care Trust (PCT) on Tuesday.

They said they were not convinced community care teams could take the place of a hospital which had given them good service for many years.

They accused the PCT of not listening to their arguments and ignoring the pressures which a growing population will put on health care in future.

No member of the board questioned the announced policy to increase care in the community in Norfolk.

But the PCT did promise that new nursing teams would be working in the area in six months time.