'Fined For Treating Patients'
Birmingham Post - 29 March 2004

The PFI (Private Finance Initiative) agreement between Worcestershire Royal Hospital and Catalyst (the Consortium provider of 'soft' services*) was calculated on a bed occupancy rate of 90%.

Catalyst are now charging an extra £200,000 to pay for the extra work involved in caring for the patients being treated at Worcester as a result of the closure of Kidderminster Hospital.

"The fact that Worcestershire Acute Hospital is running at 98% capacity proves there aren't enough beds within the trust to cope with emergencies and acute demand."

"Why should the NHS pay this money - when it is so badly needed for patient care ?"

This also shows there's a lot of secrecy behind these PFI deals. The problem now is this contact - the Worcestershire Health Authority and the Worcester Royal Infirmary Trust no longer exist !"

"There is no accountability and so John Rostill, the Chief Executive, has been left to pick-up the pieces."

Dr. Richard Taylor. M.P.

'The political fall-out .. where a hospital is being penalised for treating too many patients threatens to be severe.'
'Worcs. Royal' is already facing a £15,000,000 deficit and having to cancel non-urgent operations and work-out where future cuts may fall.
'The Government ... which sanctioned the down-grading of Kidderminster Hospital to help the ballooning costs of Worcs. Royal ... will remember that the people of Kidderminster famously extracted their revenge by sacking the town's New Labour M.P.'

'Worcestershire Royal's experience demonstrates that there is no such thing as a 'free lunch'.

Birmingham Post Editor's Leader article

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