Fears for future of hospital
Hundreds of people are expected to attend The Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust gathering in the town hall tonight.
They will debate the future of the 90-year-old hospital as part of the PCT's revamp of community healthcare.
Campaigner Michael Knowles, aged 72, of Howey Lane, Congleton, said the health body's commitment to retaining 46 care beds on the site did not rule out knocking down the building and starting afresh.
Mr Knowles said: "This is a unique cottage hospital. It is part of the identity of Congleton and the people of the town are devoted to it.
"The PCT has said it will keep the site, but the question is will it keep the hospital or build a new one?
"I accept the building needs work, but I object to the idea of a developer taking over the site, demolishing the building and constructing a new hospital. Then under PFI terms they could rent it back to the NHS."
The meeting is being held after protests at the PCT's plan, called the Congleton Community Healthcare Project, which was revealed last September.
It proposed transferring services – such as orthopaedic treatment, skin complaints and the foot clinic – from the hospital to a purpose-built centre which would also oversee outpatient clinics and diagnostic services such as blood tests and scans.
As a result, the hospital would close along with three GP centres at Readesmoor, Lawton House and Meadowside.
The hospital was built between 1919 and 1923 in memory of the town's war dead. It currently has 28 beds treating medical and rehabilitation patients.
Margaret Elkin, aged 72, from Congleton, is a member of the hospital's League of Friends, a group of volunteers who raise money for healthcare.
She said: "It is a friendly little hospital and people really want to know whether the services delivered there will be saved. It doesn't really matter whether they are provided there or in the new super surgery but we want assurances.
"Most people also want the building saved. It's a pity it has fallen into disrepair over the years, but old does not have to mean dysfunction."
The meeting will run from 7pm to 9pm in the town hall and will be chaired by Councillor Gordon Baxendale and attended by Professor Pauline Ong and chief executive Michael Pyrah, both from the PCT.
Town Mayor, Councillor Ernie Clarke, is expected to attend and Mr Knowles and Mrs Elkin will put the case for the retention of the hospital.
IT'S WAR: Health officials are being urged to spare Congleton War Memorial Hospital from demolition.
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