Fight to save hospital from permanent closure

Residents have called for a Cornish hospital to be reopened and brought back to community use.

A meeting was held in Fowey on Tuesday where people voiced concerns at the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board's (ICB) plan to sell-off the town's community hospital.

The ICB said it would be too expensive to refurbish the site - which closed temporarily in 2016 after being deemed unfit for purpose - but residents believed it could still be used for healthcare provision.

A report from a public consultation about the hospital is due to be reviewed by Cornwall Council on Wednesday with a final decision on its future due to be made by the ICB in May.

Dozens of people attended the meeting at the Squires Field Community Centre.

Rob Rooney, who co-organised the residents meeting, said many people in the town did not agree with the ICB's plans for the hospital site.

"This is our chance to start a campaign to roll this all back and get the hospital open again," he said.

Jacky Poskitt, who used to work at the hospital, believed the site could still be used for local healthcare services.

She said: "It could still be a hospital, or a day care, an NHS dentist - it could be all sorts."

Michaela Burt, who worked as an assessor at the hospital, said she thought the plans for the site were "atrocious".

"I think they need to be opening cottage hospitals to actually release the beds at Treliske where there's a lot of pressure," she added.

"They need to be bringing them back to the local community."

The ICB said it had considered options for the site, including turning it into a care home or using it for clinics, but concluded it would not be financially viable.

It added improvements in technology meant the health of more people could be remotely monitored and other local services were available to use.

The ICB said: "We know people prefer to receive care and support closer to their own homes and are providing this through a range of services such as community hubs, community diagnostic centres, extra GP appointments, a falls car service and by providing alternatives to hospital admission, including same day emergency care units and virtual wards.

"People can also continue to access a wider range of services than were provided at Fowey Community Hospital at St Austell Community Hospital 8 miles (12.9km) from Fowey."

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