Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, yesterday asked Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt if he would “review the review” in order to save Portland Community Hospital.
Drax welcomed the Mr Hunt’s statement on funding for a new, long term plan for the NHS.
He then said, “Like all colleagues in the House, I am a great supporter of community hospitals. Under the latest Dorset clinical commissioning group review, Portland Community Hospital is to be replaced with a medical hub on the island. Will the extra money allow the CCG to review the review, and perhaps save hospitals such as Portland Community Hospital?”
The Health Secretary replied, “Obviously, that would be for the CCG to look at; it will focus on anything that allows it to focus on prevention and not cure. I do not know the specifics of that case, but in general there is a strong and important role for community hospitals, although not always doing exactly the same things they have done in the past. Often, they can become local NHS hubs, offering a wide range of services. That tends to be the best way to preserve their future.”
“I was glad to have a direct answer from the Minister,” says Drax. “The future of Portland Hospital is a particularly thorny issue in the vexed question of Dorset’s NHS review by the CCG. We all know that community hospitals play a vital role and we must do all that we can to preserve their unique benefits. We managed to save Swanage community hospital; if there is any way the CCG can indeed be persuaded to review their review of Portland Hospital, it would be a very good thing.”