Concerns have been raised over what has been described as a “managed decline” of services at the North Cambs Hospital, with top Fenland councillor calling for an investigation into cuts.
At a meeting of Fenland District Council, independent councillor Dal Roy (Elm and Christchurch) questioned the future of key health services at the hospital, highlighting the previous loss of MRI provision and reports that endoscopy services could also be withdrawn.
Cllr Roy said residents were already struggling to access alternatives, particularly in King’s Lynn.
He said: “People find it extremely difficult to go to King’s Lynn… I have been approached by many residents, as well as the Friends of North Cambs Hospital, as to why there’s a managed decline of these services.”
He described the hospital as a vital facility not only for Wisbech but also surrounding villages, and asked what more could be done to prevent further services being lost.
Responding, council leader Chris Boden said district councils have limited direct responsibility for healthcare, but acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns.
He said he would raise the issue with Cambridgeshire County Council’s health scrutiny committee, which holds statutory oversight of NHS services.
“One of the things that I will do is to contact the chairman of the county council health committee… with a view to them putting it as an agenda item,” he said.
Cllr Boden agreed there was an “appearance of managed decline”, describing the situation as “unacceptable”.
He said: “We need health services to be as accessible as they reasonably can be… King’s Lynn is not an easy place for some people to get to from Wisbech and surrounding villages, certainly not by public transport.”
He also pointed to national policy supporting more localised healthcare provision, including the use of community or “cottage” hospitals, and said facilities in Wisbech and Doddington should be fully utilised where possible.
The leader added that Fenland MP Steve Barclay had been active in raising concerns, particularly around the loss of MRI services and uncertainty over other provision.
However, he warned that proposed changes at national level could further reduce the influence of local councils over NHS decisions.
“We need better communication and coordination between local government and the NHS, not less,” he said.
Following the meeting, Cllr Boden discussed the situation with Cllr Graham Wilson, chair of Cambridgeshire's adults and health committee, and had also called upon Cllr Liam Dewey-Beckett, chair of the county's health scrutiny committee, asking him to instigate an investigation into the deterioration of access to services at the Wisbech hospital.
Cllr Boden, who hoped the current situation would prove temporary, pointed out that Wisbech is one of the most deprived areas in Cambridgeshire and has the worst health profile in the county.
"So, it begs the question: why are health services being stripped away from Wisbech's hospital?" asked Cllr Boden.
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