Published: Thursday, 26th March, 2009 12:00pm

Injection needed as hospital decays

by Rose Harland

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HEALTH bosses have been urged to make a final decision on a new health centre so plans can be finalised for the future of a much-loved hospital.

Future services offered at Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot will have to

complement those offered at the new Healthspace in Bracknell, especially as the sites will be so close to each other.

Berkshire East PCT is close to making a final decision on a partner to build the Healthspace at Arlington Square or Brants Bridge. But Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead councillors are worried because Heatherwood and Wexham Park NHS Foundation Trust cannot make future plans for Heatherwood until they know for sure which services will be offered in Bracknell.

Speaking at a meeting of the Joint East Berkshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, chairman Cllr Simon Meadowcroft said: "The acute trust is in a difficult position because it can see funds for patients potentially being lost to Healthspace and it needs to know what will happen."

He added: "Meanwhile, Heatherwood continues to decay and the trust can't make their long term investment decisions."

The new Healthspace is in the final stages of procurement with just two partners left in the race, one of which is Heatherwood and Wexham Park NHS Foundation Trust. The decision is expected in April. Services proposed for the new health centre include an urgent care centre, which may have a bearing on the future of Heatherwood's Minor Injuries Unit.

Colin Hayton, strategy advisor for Heatherwood and Wexham Park, said: "If there is going to be an urgent care centre in the Healthspace we doubt there could also be a Minor Injuries Unit at Heatherwood."

Both PCT and Trust representatives at the meeting where keen to stress that Heatherwood will have a vibrant future, becoming a centre where many non-emergency surgeries are carried out. Emergency patients will be treated at Wexham Park in Slough.

Mr Hayton said: "We're in discussion with the PCT about caring for patients who are waiting for something to happen, such as being transferred to a nursing home. The plan is that Heatherwood should do what it can safely and appropriately, but it should no longer take 999 emergency cases like strokes or heart attacks."

He added: "The strategy of the trust is that we should develop two hospital sites which complement each other."