The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
An urgent plea for help has come from Holbeach Hospital amid fears that it could disappear.
The hospital was saved when the NHS announced it was to close in 1988 but the community rallied and kept the doors open.
It is run by a group of trustees as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, but new trustees are needed.
Chairman Chris Penney said he felt ‘less confident’ about the hospital’s ability to survive in the future than at any other time.
With huge increases in costs, including energy bills hiking from £1,500 a month to £1,000 a week, there are pressures on the hospital from all sides.
The wage bill will also go up by around £120,000 a year from April, insurances by £6,000 and food by around 20 per cent.
“We really need some younger trustees so there is succession as we are all getting older. People here have to decide if they want to keep the hospital or not,” he said.
“I have been chairman for many years, involved for nearly 30 years and the future needs securing. People have to decide if the hospital closed, would Holbeach and East Elloe notice?”
“If people do not have the time to commit to being a trustee, but still want to show support for our hospital, they can become a member,” he added.
The hospital has 47 beds and offers nursing care, rehabilitation and extra care before patients return home. It also offers end-of-life care, with beds available for referral by GPs.
The NHS contract of six beds covers the cost of one nurse and everything else has to covered.
“Funding that the trust receives for care falls woefully short of the costs of providing care,” said Mr Penney.
The League of Friends also helps raise money for the hospital, but the trust has estimated costs for 2023-24 will be £200,000 more than previous years.
“If the community wants us, then we need some help,” he added.
The League of Friends ‘works tirelessly’ to help boost finances. But, in line with everyone else, rocketing costs need secured funding to enable the hospital’s survival.
