Culture of fear ‘silencing’ concerns for new £400m Royal Liverpool hospital

Mar 26 2008 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

Culture of fear ‘silencing’ concerns for new £400m Royal Liverpool hospital

A CONSULTANT who has criticised plans for the new Royal Liverpool Hospital says the opinion is widespread within the organisation, but a culture of fear is stopping others from speaking out.

Dr Emlyn Williams, consultant physician at the hospital, thinks the £400m new build, which received planning permission last week, is a waste of money that could be better spent on services for patients.

He said: “The hospital is only 28 years old but there has been this conditioning for years that a new hospital is needed – most of our houses are not this new.

“It is a widely-held view within the hospital and its doctors but there is a culture of fear in the NHS stopping them from speaking out.

“The building obviously has its problems but they could be solved for a fraction of the cost.

“Needs could be different in 15-20 years, so do we then knock this new build down and start again?

“There is a lot of space in this building, it could definitely be refurbished.

“I am very worried about the financial implications and the burden this PFI building will place on the people of Liverpool.”

But Dr Peter Williams, Medical Director at the Trust said: “We have been working on the develop-ment of these plans for the past three years.

“This has been led by our most senior clinicians and staff at all levels across all disciplines – medical and non medical – have been involved. This planning work has finally led us to two possible options for the future: refurbish or rebuild – with significant differences in cost.

“Refurbishing the existing hospital would be extremely dis-ruptive to patients and staff, while services continue to be provided around the building works.

“It would also cost at least £100m more than a rebuild, it would take more than twice as long and it would still not deliver the type of hospital environment that our patients and staff want and deserve.”

A Trust spokesperson added:Š“It is misleading to suggest that PFI would see money ‘siphoned’ away from direct patient care. That is not the case. We already pay significant sums of money for the ongoing maintenance and service works to ensure that the hospital remains fit for use.

“PFI is a different way of paying for this but it brings some considerable benefits, not least in ensuring the building remains in the same condition for the life of the contract.”

OPINION: PAGE 10

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