Doug Charlton of Quarry Gardens in Ludlow says existing surgeries are not fit for purpose (From Ludlow Advertiser)
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Doug Charlton of Quarry Gardens in Ludlow says existing surgeries are not fit for purpose
8:00am Friday 18th May 2012 in Letters
IATTENDED the meeting in Ludlow on April 26. I comment as follows: While one can sympathise fully with concerns being expressed by the SALTS campaigners, the reality, as clearly evident in the meeting of April 26, is: The status quo is that £27 million has been ear-marked for a new hospital.
The key issues for Ludlow and South Shropshire medical services, for ALL of us are: The existing surgeries are staffed by wonderful, very friendly, competent and professional people. They are, however, battling against the odds with many issues, including worsening capacity shortage, and increasingly stringent regulatory issues. But there is no part of the £27 million investment that can be shared with the existing infrastructure to bring these up to 21st century standards. The funding is designated for the new hospital, and for that project alone.
There has been a history over many years of research and procedural issues which have brought us to the status quo, and raking over any perceived recriminations is pointless.
Indeed, any campaign seen to oppose this project, 'as is', may now very easily result in the whole project being lost, a loss to us all, for a long time to come. And the situation is very delicate.
Arguably, made even more delicate by the recent announcement that the UK is once again in recession.
I would therefore ask SALTS campaigners to support this single (and, for the time being, only) solution. Many of them have concerns, especially about getting to the new site. This is understandable.
Many solutions have already been announced, and I have no doubt at all that many additional resources and initiatives will be created after the project is made certain – including, voluntary services, which is one of Ludlow’s great strengths.
DOUG CHARLTON QUARRY GARDENS LUDLOW
