A MAN who campaigned against the closure of a unit at his community hospital more than two decades ago has expressed his concern the hospital could be lost altogether.
Launceston resident George Logg attended the town council’s meeting last week, where he told councillors: “On news south west before Christmas they were talking about the possibility of the closure of hospitals in the South West, and the closure of beds — there’s never no smoke without fire. There’s a reason for them to say that.
“The last thing I want to do is lose our hospital.”
According to the outline plan, a reduction in the number of hospital beds and community hospital sites in Cornwall could be on the cards.
Mr Logg explained to the town council that he had been involved in a campaign against the closure of Launceston Hospital’s Longlands Unit, a former maternity unit, which eventually did close more than 20 years ago.
He added: “Nobody fought harder for Longlands than I did.”
He said there had been petitions against closure at the time with ‘thousands’ of signatures, and even all-night vigils.
Mr Logg later told the Post: “There were mothers there expecting, mothers with babies, everything flourishing. After a certain time they came along with two or three ambulances, emptied it completely, took them down to Derriford and locked the doors.
“It was a sad occasion for Launceston. If Launceston Hospital is going the same way — and we don’t want it to — it will be a sad occasion for Launceston, it really will.”
He recalled many years ago the ‘shilling a brick’ scheme, whereby local people gave what they could afford to purchase the materials to build the hospital. He added:?“Launceston Hospital at one time belonged to the people and should belong to the people. The people should have some say.”
Mr Logg urged town councillors to ‘be on the ball’, when he attended the council meeting, adding: “You are the voices of the people of Launceston. Make your voices known to the right people.
“Where Longlands used to be we’ve now got physiotherapy, occupational therapy. If they took the hospital away I think Launceston would really suffer. We would have to go to Plymouth for everything.”
Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston Central Gemma Massey said there had been ‘some really strong rumours in relation to the future of the hospital’.
She said there had been central Government cuts, adding: “Cornwall Council now need to bridge this funding gap. I’m incredibly disappointed our MPs voted for these cuts and I will fight for our hospital’s future. I have expressed time and time again I will fight for our services. We can’t be travelling to Derriford — it’s ridiculous.”
Cllr Massey said she had ‘pushed’ for the STP to be debated at Cornwall Council before elections in May, adding: “It wasn’t debated at the January meeting purely due to process. That’s not to say it won’t be debated at one of the next two meetings.”
Cllr John Conway said: “If our hospital is closed it will mean more money coming out of the social care budget. It’s very much in Cornwall Council’s interest to keep Launceston Hospital open.”
Resident Joan Heaton asked town councillors if they would be debating the STP, adding: “Our councillors should reflect the views of their electorate in their ward.”
Mayor Cllr Brian Hogan said the STP would be discussed at the February meeting of the town council.
Garth Davies, director of communications, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, has previously told the Post: “We are engaging people on our five year plans. We might be looking at the use of community hospitals and whether we need all we have got.”
He added he understood that ‘people are anxious about it’ but said any big changes would be consulted on later in the year.
The STP public engagement document as well as the full draft outline business case can be viewed at www.cornwall.gov.uk/shapethefuture
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