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MP Dr Phillip Lee does not support Heatherwood birth centre reopening
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'Don't reopen Heatherwood birth unit' - Phillip Lee MP

By Laura Herbert
February 14, 2012

The town’s MP has declared he does not support calls to re-open the birth unit at Heatherwood Hospital, despite a campaign to secure its future by his constituents.

Bracknell MP Dr Phillip Lee gave his views on the future of health services in East Berkshire at Bracknell Forest Council's health overview and scrutiny meeting last Thursday.

Campaigners will fight to keep Heatherwood hospital

Dr Lee said: “I have plenty of experience and recognise this community has never been properly served with healthcare. It was promised a hospital and it has never been delivered.

“Heatherwood has become the place people are very fond of and very affectionate about.

“I fully understand the history around it and the emotional attachment to it. The problem is health care in the last 15 to 20 years has changed significantly and the way in which we work with providers has changed.

“It would be wrong of me, morally wrong, to defend services as they are.”

He continued: “I want to provide the very best healthcare for my constituents. The Ascot Birth Centre has temporarily closed.

“I don’t want it open again because it delivers less than one baby a day [on average].

“It is a midwife-led unit when there is an obstetrician unit at Frimley Park Hospital. That is where my future wife – if I find one – that’s where she will be delivering.

“How can I stand on the steps of Bracknell and defend the Ascot Birth unit? I can’t do it.”

Dr Lee added: “What we do need is a proper hospital on the M4 serving the region and not the district.

“Healthcare is becoming unaffordable day by day.”

He estimated the new hospital would cost in the region of £580 million and admitted funding could be difficult.

He said: “I think it is completely out of order Bracknell gets less money per head from central funding. If there’s the will, I have certainly found the way.”

Councillor Dale Birch, executive member for adult services, health and housing, said: “I don’t think there is anybody who will disagree with Dr Lee’s comments.

“What I would like to do is take the intention and make it into the now.”

Dr Lee told the panel he and his researcher have been looking into the possibility of a hospital on the M4 corridor and are due to produce a report later this month.

Charles Waddicor, chief executive of NHS Berkshire Primary Care Trust, said: “There is a great strong emotional attachment to Heatherwood and I recognise that.

“There probably is a way we can find a solution to this that appeases most people, but ultimately we have got to find something the community needs and we can afford as commissioners.”

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Most recent user comments 7 of 7

"What is needed is a hospital easily accessible BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT. Heatherwood fits this criterium but getting to Wexham Park or Frimley Park from the Bracknell area is almost impossible by public transport."

I have written to Dr lee previosuly on just this issue and also rising rail fares. Unsurprisingly, given his track record, he considers public transport to be for plebs and wants motorway expansion instead.

Goldfish62
17/02/2012 at 12:08

You know what - 1 birth a day does not make financial sense nor is it value for money. But then neither is Phillip Lee.

Sell Heatherwood off to the developers who want to make luxury flats for the chattering classes who want the kudos of overlooking Ascot race course, and use the cash to build a state of the art hospital IN BRACKNELL.

With all the development going on Bracknell is set to expand in a big way and services need to be available.

Forget this ridiculous idea of a hospital at Jct.8/9 - with a bit of luck that idea will go the way of our MP in 2015.

Frimley is by far the best provider in the area and health bosses should be looking to why so many people in Bracknell want to go there, and then emulate that provision locally.

Winstanley, Bracknell
16/02/2012 at 16:22

I hate to admit it but I agree with him.....1 birth a day does not make sense or value for money.

sartay
15/02/2012 at 08:45

Well no wonder this is currently no Mrs Lee if he is already making decisions for her rather than with her about her care! Many women prefer midwife-led units as they have lower rates of intervention.

alliehen
14/02/2012 at 14:13

What is needed is a hospital easily accessible BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT. Heatherwood fits this criterium but getting to Wexham Park or Frimley Park from the Bracknell area is almost impossible by public transport.

PoneRana, Wokingham
14/02/2012 at 13:20

“Healthcare is becoming unaffordable day by day.”

So are transport costs. And it's unreasonable to expect people of Bracknell to travel to Slough, Frimley, or this new suggestion of Maidenhead (where there is already St Marks), when many have to rely on public transport. Particularly as many of the bus routes serving these areas are likely to be cut under these new bus consultations!

"Councillor Dale Birch, executive member for adult services, health and housing, said: “I don’t think there is anybody who will disagree with Dr Lee’s comments."

Oh I think you will find several people who can and do disagree with his comments. It's clear that they are determined to close Heatherwood completely, as obviously the land it's built on is far too valuable. So lets sell it off, on the condition that the money gained from the sale does not go towards clearing the PCT debts, but instead builds a new hospital in Bracknell, for Bracknell. We are entitled to our own LOCAL healthcare and not just to be passed between Wexham and Royal Berks as suits them.