RESIDENTS will have the chance to quiz health bosses over Felixstowe's medical services today at a special meeting in the town.Representatives of the Suffolk Primary Care Trust are visiting to update people on the latest situation concerning the resort's hospitals - and reassure them changes are going ahead as planned.
RESIDENTS will have the chance to quiz health bosses over Felixstowe's medical services today at a special meeting in the town.
Representatives of the Suffolk Primary Care Trust are visiting to update people on the latest situation concerning the resort's hospitals - and reassure them changes are going ahead as planned.
Felixstowe General has closed temporarily and all services have been moved into the Bartlet Hospital while work takes place on a £1.4million project to refurbish Felixstowe General.
But there has been some concern that no work has started yet on the scheme, and contracts have not even been awarded.
Instead of the General being ready to re-open next spring, health officials are now saying it could be autumn next year and some people are worried whether the project will happen at all.
PCT bosses though are adamant plans are progressing smoothly and want to reassure the public.
Felixstowe Town Council is hosting the meeting at Broadway House, Orwell Road, at 7.30pm today.
Town clerk Susan Robinson said PCT officials would be giving a presentation on the latest situation, followed by discussion between them and councillors.
After this there would be public question time in which people could seek answers to their concerns direct from the trust managers.
Mayor Ann Rodwell is hoping many people from the town will attend.
Roy Gray, chairman of the Felixstowe Save Our Hospitals Action Group, said: “We will be attending the meeting to see what happens and what the PCT has to say.
“Everyone is concerned about the General and we want to see the work start as soon as possible.
“The move to the Bartlet has gone very well but the access is difficult for people because of the steep hill and the lack of parking, so the sooner the General can re-open the better.”
When the General re-opens it will have 16 beds in small wards, a new day room, a lift, minor operations suite, new physio centre, minor injuries unit, x-ray department, and more than 20 clinics, which will mean people having to travel less to Ipswich for treatment.
WEBLINK
www.suffolkeast.nhs.uk/felixstowehospital.wmv
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