Council seeks meeting to resolve hospital plans

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Council seeks meeting to resolve hospital plans

West Oxfordshire District Council's Cabinet is supporting Cllr Hilary Biles' request for an urgent meeting because of significant concerns that a deadline set by Oxfordshire County Council will jeopardise future plans for the Chipping Norton Care Home and Primary Care Facility.

Oxfordshire County Council has stated its intention to withdraw from the Chipping Norton Care Home and Primary Care Facilities scheme if a number of financial issues cannot be resolved by 31st March 2007.

Cllr Hilary Biles, Cabinet Member for Health at West Oxfordshire District Council said: "The situation is extremely serious for the people of Chipping Norton and surrounding areas. If the deadline to sort out the VAT and impairment issues is not met, then Oxfordshire County Council will withdraw its support for this project. Personally I have been fighting on behalf of local people for health facilities in Chipping Norton since 2002. Closure of the care home will impact directly on hospital services and the proposed GP surgery. This can not be allowed to happen. Sixteen beds have already been lost in West Oxfordshire and we can not afford to lose any more."

David Cameron, MP, has also voiced his concerns and has written to all parties supporting such a meeting which he has offered to Chair.

Cllr Hilary Biles and Cath James, Strategic Director at West Oxfordshire District Council, have written to the Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, the Chair and Chief Executive of the Oxfordshire PCT and the Chair and Chief Executive of the Strategic Health Authority asking them to support the proposed meeting. Because of the issues involved other agencies such as Revenues and Excise are also being asked to attend.

At the Cabinet meeting on 3rd January many local district councillors echoed their support for the meeting and commented that the hospital campaign has been going on for a long time and people have worked hard, despite all the ups and downs, to secure a new facility which might still be in jeopardy due to Treasury bureaucracy.

Posted : 03/01/2007 17:26:55

PLEASE NOTE: This story has been archived and the information contained within it may no longer be correct.


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