Blair backs hospital bid

From the Echo, first published Thursday 2nd Oct 2003.

TONY Blair has dubbed Royal Bournemouth Hospital "excellent" and backed its effort to become a foundation hospital.

His comments came just before Labour's leadership suffered a defeat over its controversial NHS plans at the party's conference.

During a visit to the town's cardiac wards yesterday the Prime Minister and health secretary John Reid said the hospital was an excellent example of the difference staff and volunteers within NHS hospitals can make.

Mr Blair said: "We can see here how they are changing their way of working, giving patients a better service - that's what it's all about; the money alone won't change it."

And they praised the role of fund-raising in bringing about improvement.

Dr Reid said: "Bournemouth is definitely an example of how things should be done" - a sentiment Mr Blair was quick to back.

Dr Reid added: "We're delighted to be able to announce the new catheter lab for the hospital and they are pressing me really hard for another one here.

"They already have three star status which is the best you can get and now plan to apply for foundation status which would give them power to make decisions themselves.

"It would mean that the decisions which currently have to be referred to London and cleared by ministers about how they respond to patients' needs could be decided here."

During a tour of the hospital's heart club Mr Blair was quick to jump on an exercise bike and rowing machine and joke with the club's members at the effort involved.

He even promised 48-year-old Des Lenehan £10 towards a sponsored swim and Dr Reid pledged £10 to 62-year-old Sharon Gay.

Hugh Waller, former headteacher of Moordown St John's school was among the patients in the cardiac unit Mr Blair and Dr Reid spoke to. He said: "I told Dr Reid that I feel frustrated that the staff here desperately want to offer us all the treatment but don't have the necessary funding."

The visit came just hours before the party conference backed a motion from the union Unison, opposing foundation hospitals. The vote is unlikely to change the government's mind.

Dr Reid also announced that more than £93million will be devoted to new heart treatment facilities nationally and Bournemouth will be among eight hospitals to receive additional angiography equipment to shorten the time taken for patients to be diagnosed with heart disease.

Chief Executive of the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Tony Spotswood, said: "The whole hospital has felt a boost as a result of the visit. We are very much looking forward to making full use of the extra money to develop cardiac services for the local population."

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