OXFORDSHIRE PCT has been told to come clean over its plans for the replacement of Bicester Hospital and finally reveal what proposals are on the table.
The move comes after it rejected a bid by Cherwell District Council to build a new 12-bed hospital on land known as the South West option, off Oxford Road.
But the PCT has refused to give any details of the schemes put forward by other potential developers, citing confidentiality.
Earlier this year the PCT advertised for developers to build a new primary care centre, which would not include any patient beds.
The PCT said it would buy 12 beds in private nursing homes around the town.
More than 30 developers contacted the PCT, along with Cherwell.
Following the council’s failure to convince the PCT it should build the hospital, campaigner Les Sibley has called for a face-to-face meeting with Health Minister Andy Burnham and PCT chief executive Andrea Young to thrash out a way forward.
Mr Sibley wants the health authority to be more open over what proposals have been shortlisted and what sites are on the table.
District council leader Barry Wood urged the PCT to rethink its decision following the announcement of a go-ahead for Cherwell’s Bicester eco town development and the potential of a 15,000 population increase.
He said: “A community hospital at Bicester remains a key ambition, a key priority, for us as a district council.
“We are not going to wimp out, we are not going to walk away.”
Mr Sibley said: “The south west option is the best option, I just think the PCT is being short-sighted.
“We need answers and we need answers quickly so we can campaign to ensure we get the best deal for Bicester.
“There are lots of questions that remain unanswered and we need the PCT to become more forthcoming.”
A PCT spokesman said: “To be fair to those we are having discussions with, the dialogue is confidential.
“Providing details to the public about details of these discussions would compromise the process.”
Meanwhile, PCT finance director Matthew Tait has reassured people the project would still go ahead — despite cuts in NHS funding over the next few years.
Mr Tait said there were “absolutely no plans” to drop the scheme.
He added: “The money for this development is in our current budget and there is no question of it being removed.”
bicester@oxfordmail.co.uk
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