Stamford Public Consultation Meeting

The third public consultation meeting took place in the Arts Centre, Stamford, on Friday 8 February 2002. Thirty-three members of the public enjoyed a healthy debate on the health investment plan and raised many important issues.

Stamford Hospital was clearly top of the agenda and several questions were asked about its future. Local GP, Ruth Livingstone, was able to reassure the audience that Stamford Hospital is a very important facility and its role will be enhanced by the health investment plan. In addition, a proposal to invest £8 million in new facilities at Stamford Hospital had recently been presented to the NHS Executive for approval. 

The investment includes the provision of a second operating theatre, replacement wards with much better facilities for patients and additional outpatient clinics.

Other issues raised at the meeting included:

• Lack of public transport to Peterborough in the evenings.
• Concerns over staff shortages, particularly with the number of GPs expected to retire in Peterborough by the end of the decade and the  impact on the out-of-hours service. 
• How will the impact of the population increase be managed prior to the opening of the new hospital?
• Are there plans to introduce a stroke rehabilitation unit within the new community facilities?
• Will the new buildings be more architecturally attractive, patient friendly and easer to use by the public?