THE Launceston Medical Centre Patient Participation Group (PPG) has stressed that Launceston’s hospital has a vital role in providing an efficient and cost-effective health service and must be retained.

The participation group’s comments are in response to the survey about the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health and Social Plan 2016-2021.

The group discussed the consultation document about the five-year plan at its January meeting. It was unanimously agreed that the group should respond to the section relating to community hospitals because the group said they had such an important role to play in relieving the huge pressure on major hospitals — both in terms of providing community bed-space for recovering patients and in providing non-emergency services and minor injury treatment.

PPG chairman Maureen Amy said: “It has been said that services at community hospitals are under-used. There is a simple reason for that; it is not because people don’t want them; it’s because people don’t know about them.

“A straw poll among our members revealed that most had no idea that the minor injuries unit at Launceston Hospital is open seven days a week and that it is open until 8pm — and that’s among a group who have an interest in local medical facilities.

“As far as the wider public is concerned, many probably don’t realise that there is a minor injuries unit at the hospital, and there have been so many changes to the NHS in recent years that it’s likely that some people are unaware that Launceston Hospital is still in service. The same is probably true for other community hospitals in the county.”

Committee member Dawn Rogers said: “Instead of closing community hospitals, they should be promoting them. They should have a business plan and sell themselves. That must be a priority.”

In its response to the consultation survey, the group said: “There is constantly information in he media about the pressure on the A&E services and talk of better use of GPs (who are already under severe pressure) but what is done to promote the services available at community hospitals; particularly in terms of minor injuries?

“The minor injuries units are in a position to prevent many people from going straight to the major A&E departments.”