Call for hospital closure backed

Local residents campaigned against Walnuttree's closure

Plans to close a community hospital are set to be backed despite a campaign and a 10,000-name petition against it.

Managers want to close Walnuttree Hospital in Sudbury, Suffolk, as part of a shake-up of hospital services.

West Suffolk Hospital Trust and Suffolk West Primary Care Trust (PCT) are being recommended to close the hospital by the end of 2007.

A spokesman for the PCT said this would follow the building of a new health centre in Sudbury.

A report to the PTC also recommends: Developing Newmarket Hospital with outpatient clinics led by consultants and a wide range of treatments, but the inpatient beds at the hospital should close Suffolk West PCT should continue to develop specialist nurses for long-term conditions The Sage older people's mental health day hospital in Newmarket, currently closed due to staff shortages, should be replaced by improved care outside hospital To reject a proposal to close the Heathfields Respite Unit at Newmarket for adults with severe learning disability

The centre would provide major outpatient facilities but no inpatient beds, compared to Walnuttree which has 32 inpatient beds.

Mike Stonnard, the PCT's chief executive, said that following public consultation it was decided that Walnuttree would not have to close by the end of 2006.

He said the hospital trust board was being asked to support the closure of St Leonard's Hospital, Sudbury, and the transfer of its gynaecology, obstetrics and orthopaedic services to the Walnuttree.

Once Walnuttree closed, beds needed for patients in the Sudbury area would be bought from the private sector.

Walnuttree staff 'marvellous'

Ivan Turner, a campaigner against the planned closure of Walnuttree, said he was saddened that the hospital may eventually close.

"My feeling is that they should build a new hospital with inpatient beds before closing Walnuttree," said Mr Turner, who lives in nearby Lavenham.

"Walnuttree Hospital staff were absolutely marvellous to my wife [who is in her 70s and suffered a stroke]. It is a great shame that they should build a new place without beds."

The PCT and the hospital trust meet on Tuesday.