OVER 60 people gathered at the Crackington Institute to discuss the new plan for health care provision in Cornwall, and the sustainability and transformation plan (STP) recently.

There were three speakers at the event on Saturday, January 7, including Karen Kay, a director of NHS Kernow; Rob Rotchell, County Councillor for Camelford and chair of the scrutiny committee for health and adult social care; and Deborah Hopkins, a nurse, a member of Keep our NHS Public, and a Unite representative.

The STP’s aim is to reduce health spending in Cornwall by more than £270-million, while still improving patient care.

Cornwall NHS currently has a deficit that will have to be repaid, and NHS budgets are being reduced even further. Additionally, Cornwall Council’s budget has been reduced by around 40% over the past few years, and the council is £7-million over budget for adult social care already this year.

Deborah Hopkins and some audience members expressed serious doubts that health care could be improved without additional money and suggested that less money would simply mean poorer care.

The audience raised questions ranging over many issues, which the panel all tried to answer, but the overwhelming feeling was that although the plan had admirable aims and objectives, it could not succeed without more money.

Cornwall received approximately 66% of the average budget compared to other health authorities.

If it received the average amount, it would mean an increase of about £23-million for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust each year.

Donations on the door raised over £71 for the Air Ambulance Trust.