KOHIN

Keep Our Hospital in Norwich

Jay

Baroness Jay Correspondence

Baroness Jay spoke in the debate in the House of Lords on the National Health Service (Private Finance) Bill on 3rd June 1997. This is what she said apropos the Community Health Council:-

The noble Lord, Lord Addington, raised specific points about the development in Norwich. I understand his concerns about local public consultation. I will raise these points with my ministerial colleagues. I can only say to him, and indeed to my noble friend Lord Rea, who raised similar concerns, that I am genuinely surprised if their suggestion is that the general response to any new hospital development in any community would be unenthusiastic. However, I know that there have been particular problems in Norwich - although I also understand that the local community health councils have endorsed the proposals as they stand. As I say, I will take up the specific concerns of the noble Lord, Lord Addington.

Dear Baroness Jay,
I write because I feel that you have been misadvised when you imply that the majority of Norfolk people are in favour of moving the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital from the city centre to an out of town site. My evidence for this is as follows:-

  1. I myself have spoken to many thousands of people in both County and City. It is rare to find a Colney supporter and rare to find someone who knows about the Community Health Council.
  2. Charles Clarke (our MP) canvassed his constituency with similar results. He describes the consultative process as 'scandalous'.
  3. Likewise Gordon Dean (County councillor).
  4. Ian Gibson the other Norwich MP declared himself as always having been in favour of city centre site.
  5. Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne (Lib/Dem at the general election) said that the consultative process had "completely passed me by".
  6. There is a petition with 20,000 signatures locked up by the South Norfolk District Council at their offices.
  7. There are a further 1,500 comments on the World Wide Web (http://www.spig.clara.net/kohin).
  8. The Colney protagonists have clearly lost both the argument and the vote at the many public meetings that I have attended.
  9. "Hold Hands Round Our Hospital" was a great success.
  10. The majority of letters in the local press are opposed to the move. Presumably this reflects the proportions received.
I am particularly concerned about the CHC's role. They have the statuary duty to advise the HA and presumably yourself about the consumer's views. They have consistently and powerfully advocated the move. When asked about procedures for consulting with the population individual members remain silent. They are under a strict written injunction from their chief executive not to "comment on Health Service matters". I believe that they have been misrepresenting the views of the local consumer.
Dr G.M.Clayton
Norwich 19th November 1997

Thank you for your letter of 19 November to Baronness Jay concerning the proposed Norfolk & Norwich Hospital redevelopment. I am sorry you have not received an earlier reply.
You may be aware that Department of Health officials have been in regular correspondence with members of the public in Norwich who have expressed concerns about the proposed hospital. Following a meeting with representatives of the Keep Our Hospital in Norwich group and senior officials at the Department of Health in July 1997, a document was produced which addresses all the concerns raised at the meeting and by the correspondence. I enclose a copy which you may find helpful.
As far as the specific points you raised in your letter are concerned, I can confirm that I have met with Charles Clarke MP and Ian Gibson MP on a number of occasions to discuss the proposed hospital.
The Colney Lane development was approved by the previuos administration in November 1996 after full planning consent was granted by the relevant planning authority and after all statutory consultation requirements had been met. This is detailed in the enclosed paper. Under these circumstances health care for the people living in both Norwich and Norfolk can best be assured in the future through the new hospital at Colney Lane.
The Government is pleased to announce that the contract for the new hospital, the largest Private Finance Initiative scheme in the NHS, has been signed and the scheme will now go ahead to provide the people of Norfolk and Norwich with a hospital fit for the 21st century.
Yours sincerely
Alan Milburn
28th January 1998

Dear Mr Milburn,
Many thanks for your letter. I too am sorry it has taken so long for you to reply to mine of 19th November.
Your reply rehearses the Government’s position but fails to address any of the points I raised.
We all welcome a new hospital to provide the people of Norfolk & Norwich with care fit for the 21st century - that at least is common ground.
My concerns are twofold. Firstly whatever the statutory requirements are a very large number of ordinary people in both the city and the county do not feel that they have been consulted or involved in the decision. Moreover they feel strongly that they should have been - a well-loved hospital founded by public subscription is worthy of greater consideration of the ordinary person than the average industrial or commercial development.
Secondly the move out of the city may well have the overwhelming support of the Community Health Council. The Community Health Council does not have the overwhelming support of the local population. There is no evidence that the CHC did anything to inform itself of the local population’s views before issuing its wholehearted support. The HA and yourselves have been misled by the CHC.
Dr Geoff Clayton
Norwich
2nd February 1998

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"It is the people's national health service and we should never forget that."

(Alan Milburn MP, Minister of State for Health, Hansard 15th May 1997)

"City centres are the places for hospitals."

(John Gummer, recently Minister for the Environment, Bristol 22nd March 1996)