New use plan for parts of Cannock Hospital
A hospital will open up empty buildings to house public services under plans to safeguard the future of the site.
Cannock Hospital would become a local community trust providing a range of services under the scheme.
The move follows revelations that only 40 per cent of the hospital site in Brunswick Road is used, losing the cash-strapped Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust £8 million a year.
The idea was mooted by Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley at the inaugural meeting of a 15-strong working group of district, county and NHS bosses.
Stuart Poynor, chief executive of the Staffordshire and Stone-on-Trent NHS Partnership, pledged to move his 100 staff from their current base at Ivy House in Wolverhampton Road, Cannock, to the hospital if the rent was affordable.
Staffordshire County Council has said it will look into moving its adult social care service to the site.
More GP surgeries, a library and day centre are suggested potential uses. The MP has even suggested converting parts of the hospital into classrooms.
