Bicester Community Hospital
The Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority (TVSHA) and The New Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) are the ultimate decision makers with regards to whether or not Bicester gets a new hospital with beds or the unpopular care centre.
If Mr Baldry claims to support a hospital with in-patient beds the evidence suggests otherwise. It is public knowledge that he had been working hard behind closed doors with the local Health Authorities to provide Bicester with a care centre.
The reality would appear to be that Mr Baldry is in favour of scrapping the new Community Hospital with beds and downgrading our existing 12-bed cottage hospital to a care centre which the residents have at every opportunity voiced their opposition to.
Mr Baldry by his actions is advocating that those opposed to such an idea would be advised to give up their fight for a new NHS hospital. May we assure him that the SOCH members and supporters have come too far to give up now? If the people of Wychavon who despite considerable problems overcame their obstacles and achieved their goal of seeing a 21st century hospital built then it is also achievable for the people of this town.
Mr Baldry stated that I blamed the NHS staff for obstructing Bicester from getting its hospital. I refute his criticisms — if Mr Baldry would kindly research previous articles from the local paper's archives he will find that I have never then nor now ever criticised NHS staff. In previous public statements of mine I have singled out and thanked local NHS staff for their long time professionalism and hard work. And as a result of fighting for the local hospital I am also protecting the interests and jobs of local NHS staff.
May I point out to Mr Baldry that instead of belittling the SOCH campaign and its supporters? That he acknowledges their commitment, time and hard work as a result by which they won considerable influence through The Rally in the Park, Town Poll, street survey, Free Land provided by the south west developers, and the 7,000 signatures petition that was handed over to the local PCT such action is now paying off as the Cherwell District Council is willing to build the hospital and then lease it back to the local PCT and exemplified by the Wychavon hospital. All this was achieved through the selfless determination of those campaigners who are determined to look after the interests of Bicester and its residents.
Mr Baldry's political meeting was a sham as it was not open to the general public as one had to apply by email to attend as illustrated in his notice in the local newspaper.
As part of the lobbying group outside the Garth on evening of Friday 13th July I was puzzled by the fact that a majority of those people entering the meeting declared their support for a 30-bed hospital as opposed to our MPs political stance?
In last week's edition a very slanted item stated that I am using the SOCH campaign for political ambition. May I dare suggest that the shoe is on the other foot? It is you as an opposition backbencher in parliament who needs to make a political statement about the whys and wherefores of the Bicester community hospital. I am working strictly as a concerned local resident of this town and feel strongly about the needs of our community regardless of political affiliations. Perhaps one day I like many others may have need of my local hospital. And this is reason why I and the local community feel as strongly as we do.
I have tried to run the hospital campaign as impartially as is possible and at no time have I used it for political ambition. Many of the hospital campaigners are from right across the political spectrum the common goal being a new hospital for Bicester because at the end of the day politics fly out of the window when there are more important issues at stake such as affordable health care.
That is why I am calling on Mr Baldry not to betray his constituents on such an important issue and not to let their pleas fall on deaf ears. Come down off the fence and show us where you really stand. Will you support the SOCH campaign and the Bicester residents in their quest for a new hospital with beds?
Cllr. Les Sibley
The Save Our Community Hospital (SOCH)
17 July 2007
Bicester Community Hospital introduction 
Click on the photos to see more pictures of our campaign to Save Our Community Hospital.
Our existing community hospital
Staking a claim on the land for the new hospital on the South West Bicester site
The SOCH (Save Our Community Hospital) Petition
The Lobbying Group outside The Garth
Wychavon District Council's new hospital under construction