THE Health Minister, Lord Warner, has today (Thursday, December 21) announced a £750 million fund for new community hospitals and NHS services which includes a new hospital for West Somerset.
The £24.5 million hospital in Minehead is being planned on a site off Seaward Way in a partnership with West Somerset Council and other agencies.
The partnership, called New Horizons, recently submitted a planning application for the development which also includes a new swimming pool, leisure facilities, business support services, and housing for local people.
The new Minehead hospital will have 20 beds and include a new diagnostic centre and day theatre, as well as new dental facilities and urgent care unit.
It is set to be fully operational from late 2009.
Lord Warner said the Minehead hospital would be one of the first to be provided by the new funding package.
The fund was intended to allow NHS patients to have minor operations closer to their homes and to receive medical tests and follow-up care outside of large hospitals.
The money will be made available to the newly-created Somerset Primary Care Trust, which has recently been reviewing the business cases for several new community hospitals planned in the county.
They had been under threat due to lack of PCT funds and a Government formula which said Somerset should only have five community hospitals against the present 13.
However, Lord Warner said: “A modern health service needs a significant amount of care provided in state-of-the-art community hospitals.
“This model of care suits peoples’ daily lives and will help many patients maintain their independence.
“Today’s funding underlines our commitment to the future of community hospitals and shows our desire to replace outdated and unsuitable buildings with modern facilities fit for the future.
"These new NHS facilities will turn our “White Paper proposals for more care closer to home into reality for thousands of patients.
“This is just the first group of new hospitals and there will be more throughout 2007 as we invest £750 million in similar schemes over the next five years.”
Community Hospitals Association chief executive Barbara Moore said: “We are delighted to hear news of the first communities to benefit from funding to modernise and extend the services available from upgraded or new community hospitals.
“Many people will be very relieved that the future of their community facilities is now secured. We look forward to seeing this repeated in many other areas.”
Lord Warner also announced today that the Department of Health has completed a deal to become sole owner of Partnerships for Health (PfH), the public private partnership set up to encourage investment in GP premises and health centres.
The deal will assist the implementation of the community hospital programme.
NHS patients should benefit from a more focused delivery of the community hospital programme, as the Department will be able to use the skills within PfH to support community ventures.
Lord Warner said: “Gaining sole ownership of Partnerships for Health is good news for patients and the NHS in the long-term.
“This deal gives us access to the skilled and experienced people needed to take forward our plans for a new generation of NHS community hospitals.
“Patients will benefit from the continued delivery of these community hospitals, while the deal will also help ensure that the new PCTs can hit the ground running as they take forward the ongoing NHS LIFT programme.”
The £24.5 million hospital in Minehead is being planned on a site off Seaward Way in a partnership with West Somerset Council and other agencies.
The partnership, called New Horizons, recently submitted a planning application for the development which also includes a new swimming pool, leisure facilities, business support services, and housing for local people.
The new Minehead hospital will have 20 beds and include a new diagnostic centre and day theatre, as well as new dental facilities and urgent care unit.
It is set to be fully operational from late 2009.
Lord Warner said the Minehead hospital would be one of the first to be provided by the new funding package.
The fund was intended to allow NHS patients to have minor operations closer to their homes and to receive medical tests and follow-up care outside of large hospitals.
The money will be made available to the newly-created Somerset Primary Care Trust, which has recently been reviewing the business cases for several new community hospitals planned in the county.
They had been under threat due to lack of PCT funds and a Government formula which said Somerset should only have five community hospitals against the present 13.
However, Lord Warner said: “A modern health service needs a significant amount of care provided in state-of-the-art community hospitals.
“This model of care suits peoples’ daily lives and will help many patients maintain their independence.
“Today’s funding underlines our commitment to the future of community hospitals and shows our desire to replace outdated and unsuitable buildings with modern facilities fit for the future.
"These new NHS facilities will turn our “White Paper proposals for more care closer to home into reality for thousands of patients.
“This is just the first group of new hospitals and there will be more throughout 2007 as we invest £750 million in similar schemes over the next five years.”
Community Hospitals Association chief executive Barbara Moore said: “We are delighted to hear news of the first communities to benefit from funding to modernise and extend the services available from upgraded or new community hospitals.
“Many people will be very relieved that the future of their community facilities is now secured. We look forward to seeing this repeated in many other areas.”
Lord Warner also announced today that the Department of Health has completed a deal to become sole owner of Partnerships for Health (PfH), the public private partnership set up to encourage investment in GP premises and health centres.
The deal will assist the implementation of the community hospital programme.
NHS patients should benefit from a more focused delivery of the community hospital programme, as the Department will be able to use the skills within PfH to support community ventures.
Lord Warner said: “Gaining sole ownership of Partnerships for Health is good news for patients and the NHS in the long-term.
“This deal gives us access to the skilled and experienced people needed to take forward our plans for a new generation of NHS community hospitals.
“Patients will benefit from the continued delivery of these community hospitals, while the deal will also help ensure that the new PCTs can hit the ground running as they take forward the ongoing NHS LIFT programme.”
- Our photograph shows Health Minister Lord Warner. Photo submitted.
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