Local NHS service at risk

David Cade, Medical Director of Care UK, with Trevor Purt, formerly CEO of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust, welcoming a patient to Greater Manchester CATS units when it first opened

Rochdale is at risk of losing a local NHS service due to a campaign by a small group of traders to refuse planning permission for the clinic that provides the service to remain on part of a town centre car park that it has occupied since 2009.

However, Rochdale Borough Council Planning Officers, having prepared a thorough and detailed report, are recommending that planning permission be granted for the units to continue to provide the service on Union Street car park.

The service is being operated by Care UK, an independent sector provider, in partnership with the NHS.

The mobile clinical units are part of a seven year contract that Care UK is delivering on behalf of the NHS to provide a range of minor surgical procedures, from orthopaedic conditions, urology, gynaecology and musculoskeletal to treatment for ear, nose and throat problems.

The opposition, led by Paul Turner-Mitchell, Chairman of Rochdale High Street Foundation and proprietor of 25Ten Boutique, oppose permission being granted on the grounds that the car parking spaces are needed for shoppers.

In a media statement, Mr Turner-Mitchell claims the whole town centre regeneration could be at risk if the units continue to occupy part of the car park. He says: “The town centre regeneration plans hang precariously in the balance. The future of our town centre is at stake here. We cannot afford to lose any more businesses and weaken the shopping experience. This is a real risk."

A nearby business owner, who preferred not to be named, said: “To suggest the whole town centre will go to pot if some of the spaces on this car park are taken by the clinic is frankly ludicrous.”

Speaking to Rochdale Online, car park owner Chris Greaves said those opposing the planning permission are doing so based on a wrong assumption, he said: “They assume that if permission is refused the site will remain a car park, however, since the Council introduced free after 3 and free all day Saturday parking takings have plummeted and the car park is not financially viable without the income from Care UK – it would have to close completely.

Town Centre Manager Debbie O'Brien has submitted a letter to the Council “on behalf of traders in the area” opposing permission being granted, however, her petition has been signed by only 15 businesses.

Mr Greaves, the car park owner, has submitted a petition in support of the permission being granted signed by over 170 traders.

In her letter Ms O'Brien also claims 184 shoppers have signed her petition (though to exactly what question is not specified in the media release) but this is completely at odds with findings from a survey carried out by Rochdale Online this week.

Our reporter spoke to shoppers and surrounding businesses and found just one against and dozens for permission being granted. The general consensus was that is a great service and the majority of locals expressed that they would love for it to continue its stay in Rochdale.

Joanne Hill who works at Forster Dean Solicitors spoke of the unit: “It is really handy. The location within the centre of town is fantastic. The times are perfect because they can give you later appointments, which meant that I was able go after work and didn’t need to have any time off.”

Ms Hill said that she has signed a petition for the NHS mobile unit to be allowed to stay in Rochdale.

Jenny MacDonald and Jamie Travi both work at the RSPCA shop on Yorkshire Street. They have both attended the mobile clinic, are fully impressed with its services and hope that it can stay. Ms MacDonald said: “I have been twice and have had X-rays there. It is ideal because the location is so close. Inside the facility, it is clean, beautiful and comfortable - there are even televisions! The staff are fantastic and even the security guard is friendly.”

The security guard on duty, Mohammed, helps to put patients at ease. He said: “It is a good company and a nice job. We are here to help people.”

Mrs Whitaker said: “The facility is great, it is extremely helpful and useful.”

Mohammed Saee, who works at the Post Office on Yorkshire Street, said that he likes the NHS unit as: “It is for the people.”

Mrs Preston was heading into the unit for an appointment, she said: “I have been six times before, but not all the time to this one. I used to go to one in Preston, but they had to move it as the land had been bought; this was detrimental for the people of Preston who used it.

“Inside, it is immaculately clean. It is wonderful. I would be lost without it.”

Upon leaving the facility, another patient, Jean Richardson said: “I have been to the mobile services before, but never to this one. It is simply fantastic. The service from them is always very good.”

Janine Baron, volunteer at Barnardos said that she received “excellent service” from the mobile clinic. She expressed how important it is to Rochdale, saying: “It could be the only thing we have left in Rochdale, with all of the hospital closures. If it went, it would be terrible and would be another nail in the coffin for Rochdale.

“We should be fighting for our local services and our local councillors should be putting up a stronger fight for them, and for us, on our behalf.

“We people of Rochdale are all important; however, many of these important people are lower down the hierarchy and do not have a large voice. They are not listened to, so our councillors should help to make them heard and keeping the mobile clinic, which many of them use and may need in the future, is an excellent starting point.

“I think it also helps to bring custom into Rochdale Town Centre, as people who are going for an appointment are likely to pop into the shops as they are close by."