Alberto has welcomed news that the NHS is inviting people to have their say on proposals to improve healthcare services in Lutterworth and importantly Feilding Palmer Hospital.
A public consultation launched on Monday by the local NHS Partners responds to the changing needs of people in Lutterworth by significantly expanding the number of health services available in Feilding Palmer Hospital on Gilmorton Road, creating 17,000 more appointments every year.
Alberto Costa welcomed the progress in Feilding Palmer's reopening, having been vocal about the hospital's status, notably securing the hospital's use as a vaccination hub in 2021.
Mr Costa has raised the hospital's use multiple times in the House of Commons chamber and has met with successive health secretaries to stress the importance of the hospital to the local community.
Alberto Costa said: "I am pleased that the consultation phase is now open, allowing plenty of time for residents to consider how the proposals will affect their families and share their views. I would encourage residents to have their say on the expansion of services at Feilding Palmer Hospital as the feedback gathered in the coming months will help influence the final decisions on how the hospital is used.
As the only hospital in the constituency, I have long been making the case for Feilding Palmer’s use and have raised the issue with successive health secretaries since the hospital was originally threatened with closure. Indeed, I was delighted to secure the hospital's use as a vaccination hub during the pandemic, but constituents care about the long-term use of Feilding Palmer and its role in the community, and this consultation is therefore very welcome."
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Details about the expansion:
The increase in services would be achieved by using the space in the existing hospital in a different way. The proposals include:
changing the use of the current space in Feilding Palmer Hospital to provide outpatient and diagnostic services, replacing the current 10 inpatient beds
increasing the number of outpatient services (where people visit a hospital for a diagnosis or treatment, but do not need to stay overnight) to approximately 17,000 appointments per year, covering more than 25 branches of medicine
reducing travelling times and the miles people travel to receive health care, by approximately 200,000 miles per year
in time, creating a Lutterworth Health Campus on Gilmorton Road, Lutterworth to provide additional health and care services, including mental health, optometry, dentistry, GP practices and local authority services.
These plans are specifically designed to respond to the expected growth in demand for local services, as a result of the 2,700 new homes being built in the future, as well as improving support to people who need physical and mental health services and providing more services closer to people’s homes.
People have until Sunday 14 January 2023 to share their views and full details are available online at www.haveyoursaylutterworth.co.uk. Alternatively, people can:
complete a paper copy of the questionnaire available in venues across Lutterworth or by calling: 0116 295 7572 or emailing: [email protected]
write to: Freepost Plus RUEE–ZAUY–BXEG, Lutterworth consultation, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board, Room G30, Pen Lloyd Building, Leicestershire County Council, Leicester Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8TB.
There will also be a series of drop-in events which people can attend:
Lutterworth Library, George Street, Lutterworth LE17 4ED
Drop-in sessions for support to complete the questionnaire.
Every Thursday throughout the consultation, 10am – 1pm (except 9th November, 28th December, and 4th January)
Lutterworth Sports Centre, Coventry Rd, Lutterworth LE17 4RB
Drop-in session to ask questions or receive support to complete the questionnaire.
Monday 6 November, 2pm – 7pm
Wycliffe Rooms (Main Hall), George Street, Lutterworth LE17 4ED
Drop-in session to ask questions or receive support to complete the questionnaire.
Thursday 7 December, 10am – 2pm
