HOSPITAL bosses who were ordered to consult the public about the future of two wards have hit a gltch - a patients' watchdog has refused to back the consultation.

Trafford Healthcare Trust shut the last two inpatient wards at Altrincham General Hospital in March, claiming they were no longer safe.

Former nurse Pat Morris then risked an é80,000 legal bill to force them to carry out a proper consultation into the closure.

A High Court judge stopped short of ordering the wards to be reopened in September, because trust bosses promised to carry out a full consultation "very shortly".

Now Trafford's patient watchdogs have refused to back the consultation, because it doesn't include proposals to turn the wards into a rehabilitation and respite unit.

This was suggested and won public support at two pre-consultation "listening" events.

But the consultation contains just two choices:

Re-open the beds and re-establish a consultant-led inpatient rehabilitation service;

Or keep the beds closed and provide a central consultant-led inpatient rehabilitation service at Trafford General.

Judie Collins, from Trafford Patient and Public Involvement Forum said: "We feel the consultation document has been rushed - and we want to make sure the public understand what they are being asked.

"Members of the public said they wanted the beds back, to be used for rehabilitation and respite, and they wil be confused that this option is not included in the consultation."

Pat Morris said she had "serious concerns" and had still been waiting for confirmation that a final draft had been agreed.

A trust statement said: "The public consultation period follows a series of `listening events' between staff, local people, the Patient Public Involvement Forum, voluntary organisations and managers at Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust. The events aimed to gather views about what options for future services should be included in the official consultation document, as well as how the consultation should take place."

The consultation has started and will last until March 20.

A hospital spokeswoman said they decided not to include a third option because they did not have any extra funding from Trafford Primary Care Trust to provide it.

Fay Selvan, chairman of Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Altrincham General, said: "We are working very hard to continuously improve the service provided at Altrincham General. We are committed to listening to the views of all local people in making decisions about the future."

Trust bosses are also holding public events as part of the consultation from 7-8.30pm tomorrow and from 2-3.30pm on January 13 at Altrincham General; and 2-3.30pm on February 12 at Old Trafford Neighbourhood Centre in Shrewsbury Street, Old Trafford.

amanda.crook@men-news.co.uk

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