PCT 'ignores' views of campaigners

Davison House could become home to Sue Ryder Care after the board of Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) identified its "preferred option" for the future of the hospital yesterday (Wednesday, 09 January).

That preferred option would see Davison House used by a "third party organisation providing neuro-rehabilitation services".

Davison House, off Mill Road in Cambridge, currently provides 30 beds, the majority of which are used by elderly patients.

A total of five options, ranging from reopening all 72 beds to closing them all and reinvesting money elsewhere, will now be put to public consultation before the PCT makes a final decision.

Cambridge Older People's Enterprise (COPE) wants all the beds to be reopened. But Robert Boorman, treasurer of COPE, fears the decision to opt for Sue Ryder Care has already been made. He said:

"I thought something was going on behind the scenes - this just confirms my suspicion that they have already made their minds up."

"I am angry about it, because we have put a lot of effort into putting a sensible point of view without being aggressive. I feel we have been ignored. I am not happy with their argument that care in the community is the solution for everybody's problems."Elderly people who are husbands and wives are fine. The people who will suffer are single people."

COPE members joined David Howarth, MP for Cambridge, to submit a 1,600-signature petition backing their cause in October.

The PCT's preferred option would see five beds retained at Davison House for stroke rehabilitation, with up to four inpatient beds provided elsewhere.

Sue Ryder Care has expressed an interest in moving to Davison House to replace its neuro-rehabilitation residential home at the Old Palace in Ely.

But Daniel Zeichner, Cambridge Labour parliamentary spokesman, believes the deal is not certain and that Davison House could provide neuro-rehabilitation under the NHS.

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