Agenda item

(Further Papers to Follow)

Mr Dawson (Head of Development and Public Protection, Dover District Council), Ms Donovan (Planning and Communications Manager, Environment Agency), Ms Harrison (Director of Assurance and Strategic Development, NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent), Mr Ingleton (Head of Regeneration, Dover District Council), Mr Morley (Associate Director of Estates, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT), Caren Swift, Director of Strategic Development, (EKHUF),and Mr Tutton (LINk) were present for this item.

(1)       The Chairman invited Ms Harrison to give the Committee a brief update on progress since this matter was considered at the meeting on 30 October 2009.

(2)       Ms Harrison referred to papers circulated with the agenda which showed the outcomes of stakeholder events.  These outcomes had been considered by the Primary Care Trust (PCT) Board in November 2009. At this meeting the PCT Board had considered the three original sites, Buckland, Whitfield and mid town and also two further sites, Buckland Hospital and Charlton Green.  The Board considered all of these sites and resolved at this stage to rule out the mid town site, because of flood risk, and the two newer sites as they did not have any significant advantages.  The PCT Board requested the business case from East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT) for these two sites before making a decision. Ms Harrison confirmed that the PCT’s priority was to deliver the most affordable and rapidly deliverable option.  The business case from the EKHUFT was considered at the PCT Board on 27 January 2010 where it was decided to develop a full business case for the Buckland hospital site.

(2)       Mr Tolputt asked whether the Buckland Hospital site had adequate land available for expansion, and what impact there would be on services at  Buckland Hospital whilst the site was being developed.  Mr Morley replied that there was extensive land available at the Buckland Hospital site and that none had been sold to a third party.  He explained that the new Hospital would be built on the existing car park and therefore at no point would the development of the site adversely affect services.

(3)       Mr G Prosser, MP was invited to speak. He explained that his consistent position was that what Dover wanted was a local community hospital that was deliverable, affordable and which could be developed quickly.   He expressed his respect for those in Dover who supported and campaigned for their favourite site option and acknowledged that many of those, including Mr Hansell,  had been critical of the mid town site which had been supported by many including Dover District Council and himself.  However, the flood issue prevented the use of the mid town site - in time it might have been possible to ameliorate the effects of flooding but not within the timescale necessary for the development of the hospital.   He stated that the Buckland Hospital site was in the ownership of the Hospital Trust, there was additional land available on the site, and it did not have an issue with flooding.  The issue of using the monies available was still the priority and any further time slippage would put the scheme in jeopardy.   Mr Prosser expressed his support, without reservation, to site Dover’s new Community Hospital on the Buckland Hospital site.

(4)       Mr Hansell was invited to speak.  He set out the reasons why he believed that Whitfield was the most suitable site and why he believed that the Buckland Hospital site was unsuitable. These included lack of room for expansion on the Buckland site and inadequate parking. He also stated that the Whitfield site was closer to more areas of deprivation than Buckland Hospital. In conclusion he stated that Dover had been promised a £20m hospital and what was on offer was a £11m clinic.

(5)       Councillor Heath (Dover District Council) expressed concern about the access problem for the Buckland Hospital site.  He referred to a visit 3 years ago by the Dover District Councils Scrutiny Committee to Buckland Hospital where Councillors had been told that Buckland Hospital was not fit for purpose and that the Mid Town site was preferable. He asked what had changed the Hospital Trusts mind and whether this was this based on financial considerations. 

(6)       Councillor Lyons stated that the Environment Agency had made it clear that the only place that would not flood was the Buckland site and it was in the ownership of the NHS, whereas the Whitfield would have to be purchased.  He expressed concern at the length of time that it had taken to get to this stage.

(7)       Ms Harrison explained that the PCT and EKHUFT had been in dialogue about this issue for a long time and she reminded the Committee that it had been decided some time ago to build on the Buckland site.  However, at a meeting of this Committee they were asked to reconsider using the mid town site, which had delayed the process.  However, the issue of flooding had ruled out the mid town site and therefore the opportunity had been taken to consider all site options again.  The most important consideration was ensuring that any site met the health needs of the people of Dover.  Therefore, the development of new build on Buckland Hospital car park was the best option.  At this meeting health colleagues were looking for an understanding from the Committee so that they could go forward in a timely way as any delay would put the funding for this scheme at risk.

(8)       Mr Daley stated that the Committee had listened to the arguments for and against these sites on a number of occasions and had listened to all interested parties, including Mr Hansell and elected representatives at all levels.  The key factor for any site was that it must be capable of being delivered now. All sites had issues but the Buckland site was deliverable within the timeframe. There were planning issues in relation to the Whitfield site which could cause delay and lead to the funding being reallocated.  

(9)       Mr Tutton (Kent LINk) gave details of discussion on the Whitfield site with Planning Officers from Dover District Council that he had attended with Mr Hansell.  He expressed the view that public engagement on this issue had been haphazard.  The operation of the proposed Community Hospital by the EKHUFT rather than the PCT was confusing for the public.  He disputed the statement that the majority of the pubic in Dover were in favour of the mid town site as an on line survey had shown that only 14% of those who responded thought that mid town was the best site.  It was important to ensure that the new Hospital would serve the community not only in Dover but also in Deal, Sandwich etc. He also highlighted the difficulty faced by Dover residents in accessing some services such as blood tests.    

(10)     Mr Dawson set out Dover District Councils’ current planning position which was that in terms of planning policy there was no identified site for the new Hospital.  In an earlier version of their Core Strategy there was reference to a Community Hospital on the mid town site but this had been removed as it had not been possible to resolve flooding problems at that point.     In an attempt to help EKHUFT to resolve this issue Dover District Council had made available all their site information.    In a couple of years time the mid town site may be the best site but not within the timescale for this development.

(11)     Councillor Kirby acknowledged that the mid town site was not available due to circumstances beyond Dover District Council’s control. Therefore, it was necessary to move forward.  He asked the PCT to confirm that using the Buckland site would involve a new build and not a refurbishment of the existing building and that there would be adequate parking on site.  Also he sought confirmation that the Deal Hospital would be retained to provide  facilities to Sandwich, Deal and the rural area to  relieve pressure on Buckland. 

(12)     Ms Donovan explained that the Environment Agency had provided information to the PCT Board to help it to understand the environmental issues for the various sites. She stated that both Buckland and Whitfield had the lowest level of flooding.   The Environment Agency believed that the environmental issues for both sites could be managed and they wanted to assist Dover get its hospital as soon as possible. She referred to a meeting that was due to take place at County Hall later in the day to look at how surface water risk in Dover could be managed

(13)     Mr Ferrin stated that he was happy to support the suggestion to use the Buckland site as long as there was adequate parking.  He also asked if parking on the Buckland site was going to be free of charge. 

 (14)    In relation to the parking issue, Mr Dawson stated that Dover District Council, as the Planning Authority would require a travel plan and County Council highways staff would get involved at that time. 

(15)     Mr Morley confirmed that the business case considered at the EKHUFT Board recommended £19m as an outline cost of the scheme for the Buckland site. He confirmed that the Trusts’ landholding at Buckland was extensive and the scheme would consolidate development into a single facility on a smaller footprint which would provide the opportunity for adequate parking. A desk top study had been carried out and the risk of contamination on the Buckland had been identified as low.

(16)     RESOLVED that the Committee unanimously supports the NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust and the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust with moving forward with an affordable and rapidly deliverable facility in Dover.