REDEVELOPMENT plans for Stratton Hospital were recently confirmed at a coffee morning held by the League of Friends.

Around 50 people attended the meeting held on March 25, at the Falcon Hotel in Bude.

They were greeted by trustees of the group and by president Dr David Giles – who was happy to report acceptance of the redevelopment plans by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust (CIOSPCT).

The project will cost around £2.5 million and will be jointly funded by the NHS and the League of Friends.

Work will be carried out in two phases. Firstly, the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) will be relocated nearer the existing entrance of the hospital and the X-ray department, so that patients can use these facilities more easily and safely, rather than go through the in-patient area. The Physiotherapy Department will also be improved by the addition of a mezzanine level for storage space.

The second phase, due to start in December 2010, will involve complete rebuilding and modernisation of the in-patient facilities to improve the running of the hospital so that 21st century standards of safety, privacy and dignity will be met. The work should be completed by December 2011.

At the meeting Dr Giles recalled a highly successful fund raising effort by the League of Friends in 1986, when a new operating theatre was built at Stratton Hospital thanks to generous support from the public who raised over £150,000 in nine months. The group now need to raise £1 million to ensure Stratton Hospital's redevelopment and hope that the public will help to meet the challenge.

It was an encouraging meeting, with several new members being enrolled into the League of Friends, and donations (including a most generous single contribution of £500) and a raffle raising a total of over £700.

The CIOSPCT had planned to hold a public meeting on April 27, to show the hospital plans and to answer questions from the public. However, the date has had to be postponed because of the general election and the meeting is likely to be held shortly after the election – a date, time and venue will soon be announced.