'We'll foot bill for a hospital' (From Oxford Mail)

'We'll foot bill for a hospital'

8:55am Wednesday 3rd January 2007

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The leader of Cherwell District Council says he is happy to write a cheque to build Bicester a new hospital - if health officials want one.

Campaigners have been pushing for a modern community hospital in the town for years and now Cherwell's leader Barry Wood is backing a scheme in which the council will pay for it.

The authority would use money from its reserves to pay for the building and rent it to the Oxfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust at a discounted rate. However, the council would be earning more than it would from interest if the money was left in the bank.

Mr Wood's comments came after two of his fellow councillors visited Pershore in Worcestershire, where a similar project backed by Wychavon District Council opened its doors last month.

He said: "From Cherwell's viewpoint we still think that a Wychavon-style solution has great merit. The key is whether the new Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust actually wants a hospital at all.

"The Wychavon thing is a marvellous idea and Cherwell would put its hand in its pocket to secure that for Bicester."

Labour councillor Les Sibley and Bicester mayor Ajit Bhart, a Conservative, joined forces to visit Pershore's new 26-bed hospital.

The hospital was built for £6.7m by Wychavon District Council, which will lease it back to the local health authority.

Mr Sibley, who had also visited the hospital last May, said they spent three hours at the site - touring the hospital and discussing how the project could be repeated in Bicester.

He said: "It was really impressive. The council can't go wrong and they're going from strength to strength - they're embarking on another project to build a 100-bed hospital in Evesham.

"I feel pretty sure it could deliver what we need here in Bicester. It makes me even more determined that this is the sort of thing that will meet the aspirations of the people of Bicester."

Dr Bhart, who had not visited the project before, said: "I was very impressed, I think it's something we need in Bicester. I think it's a very good project and Bicester can do it. This isn't about party politics."

The PCT and the district council are planning to hold a public meeting in the spring to discuss the future of Bicester Community Hospital and what facilities a planned care centre could offer.

The town was promised a new 30-bed hospital by the Government in 1998 but the money was never ringfenced.

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