Families get pledge on Cannock Hospital's future
Cannock Hospital does have a future but it is not yet clear how services will look, health bosses told residents at a packed public meeting.
Around 150 people took the chance to question health chiefs last night about the future of the hospital. It follows recent fears that the hospital in Brunswick Road, which only has two of its nine wards in use, could eventually close.
MP Aidan Burley is calling for the running of the hospital to be handed over to the community.
A team has been drafted in by watchdogs Monitor to look at the finances of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, which runs both Cannock and Stafford hospitals.
The hospital is battling a against a planned financial deficit of £15 million for the year.
Janus Toth, deputy leader of Cannock Chase Council, asked health representatives at the civic centre meeting: "Do you say at this stage that Cannock Hospital is a viable hospital continuing into the future as a viable service within the NHS?"
Steve Kirby, from Ernst & Young, who is heading the review team, replied: "I can.
"Exactly what those services look like I can't tell you at the moment."
Part of Monitor's work is to look at what should be considered "protected services" which should remain to be offered locally.
There was applause when one resident said more services should be moved to the hospital.
Hospital chief executive Lyn Hill Tout said the way patients were treated today has changed enormously.
She said: "We are all passionate about hospitals and want to use them appropriately but what we also have to recognise is the type of care we provide now is changing."
