Chatsworth House...good news coming...?

After the remarkably stupid decision by Denbighshire Local Health Board to propose closure of Chatsworth House (Prestatyn Community Hospital)I wrote to Health Minister Brian Gibbons with a formal objection to the consultation process. He is yet to reply. However he has now held a meeting with the local protest group after previously refusing to meet with them. Its reported that the meeting went well.

Given the current political climate it seems Labour have realised they are certain to lose the Vale of Clwyd if this issue is not resolved. In the next few weeks I expect one of the following things to happen.

1. The Minister to order a new consultation process due to flaws in the previous one. The process to conclude after the elections next year.
2. New money mysteriously appears allowing the hospital to stay open for at least eighteen months
3. An announcement is made that savings from the Secondary Care Review, that have been earmarked for primary Care, will be used to keep the Hospital Open.

Of the three options the third is most likely. This means we can keep Chatsworth House if we are prepared to lose 400 other hospital beds in North Wales, close and downgrade other hospitals a few years after spending a small fortune on them and centralise services on three sites.

What is actually needed is a government that will take an axe to the absurd 22 Local Health Boards and the various other health bodies that are unfit for purpose. We only have 11 months to wait.