Royal Victoria Hospital To Be Sold?

Shepway Lib Dems have slammed news today that the main building of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Folkestone may be sold. Despite repeated promises by NHS Trust managers that services were secure at the hospital, the sell-off will lead to the transfer of more key services to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

A statement by the East Kent Hospitals Trust says:

"East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust is considering putting the old Victorian building that forms part of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Folkestone, up for sale - a move that would save the Trust £1.2 million a year.

"The building has not been used for inpatient wards for over a year, and is costing the Trust £1.2 million a year to own, maintain, clean and heat - money that could be better spent on patient care.

Director of Facilities Howard Jones has met with the Chief Planner of Shepway District Council to discuss the planning situation."

Shepway Lib Dems campaigned against the previous ward closures at the hospital, and warned at that time that the ward closures could threaten the future of the hospital. Lynne Beaumont, Leader of the Lib Dem Group on Shepway District Council commented on hearing the news:

"This is exactly why the Lib Dems campaigned so hard against the closure of the in-patient wards to begin with.

"The Trust's own consultation document on the closure of in-patient wards in 2004 makes no mention of selling the main building. Indeed, that consultation says 'The aim is to ensure that as part of health service provision in Shepway, the Royal Victoria Hospital is developed as a vibrant local one-stop health and social care site'. Which part of closing the largest part of the hospital helps its development as a 'vibrant local one-stop health and social care site'?

"The hospitals own web site currently lists the services at the Royal Victoria Hospital as Audiology clinic, Cardiology, Cataract, Chaplaincy, Colorectal, Dermatology, Diabetes, Dietetics and Nutrition, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Endocrinology, Extended Scope Practitioners-Spinal, Falls and Osteoporosis Service, Walk-in Centre, Wheelchair Service, Gastroenterology, General Medicine, General surgery, Geriatric Medicine, Glaucoma, Gynaecology, Haematology, Haematuria, Nephrology (Renal), Occupational Therapy, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic, Orthoptic service, Outpatient and diagnostics, Paediatrics, Physiotherapy, Psychological services, Rehabilitation, Rheumatology, Services for older people, Speech and language therapy, Subfertility, Therapy services, Thoracic Medicine, Urogynaecology, Urology Diagnostic Triage Service, Urology, Women's Health Services.

"Which of those services will be 'relocated'? This sell-off plan is a disgrace and a betrayal."

Toby Philpott, Shepway Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman added:

"As someone who has relied upon services at the Royal Victoria Hospital this is appalling news.

"Chronic NHS funding crises under both Conservative and Labour governments have finally brought us to this. First they axed inpatient wards at the hospital and now the local trust wants to take away our local services all together.

"The local Lib Dems will do all in our power to fight this threat and ensure that local people can still get hospital treatment in Shepway."

Related Links

• 2004 NHS Trust consultation on removal of inpatient services from Royal Victoria Hospital in Folkestone
• Current outpatient service list at the Royal Victoria Hospital - but for how long?