News Release

3rd February 2003

STILL NO HYDROTHERAPY POOL AT NEW LICHFIELD HOSPITAL?

Despite physiotherapy staff requesting the inclusion of a hydrotherapy pool - and even offering to raise the money to pay for it themselves - it has not been included in the business plan for Lichfield's new hospital. And constituents trying to find out for themselves about developments with the new hospital are unable to do so: 18 months on, the Burntwood Lichfield and Tamworth Primary Care Trust website is still not up and running with the message that it is 'being developed'. After being contacted by constituents, Michael Fabricant has now written to Alan Snuggs, Chief Executive of the Trust, asking whether the inclusion of a specialist hydrotherapy pool can be reconsidered.

"A modern community hospital with a physiotherapy department does normally have access to a pool within the department and should not require patients with walking difficulties to travel to other hospitals. Given that I am told that most of the funding could be raised locally, I hope that the Trust will reconsider their decision not to include a pool." says Michael Fabricant. "Meanwhile, we still await Government funding for the rest of the hospital!".