by Graham Tutthill

The new hospital facilities for Dover could end up on the Buckland Hospital site after all.

The flood risk has virtually ruled out the proposed site at Maison Dieu Road, and the other suggested sites are unlikely to be chosen for various reasons.

But district council leader Cllr Paul Watkins has warned that the Buckland Hospital land is contaminated and work will have to be carried out to make it suitable.

At a meeting on Monday, two new sites were put forward: the former Royal Mail sorting office site in Maison Dieu Road – although that is also likely to be dismissed because of the flood risk – and the former Buckland Paper Mill site, where car parking and room for future expansion could be critical issues.

Tim Ingleton, the head of regeneration at the district council, said the Maison Dieu site was still the council’s preferred option.

Amanda Harrison, director of assurance and strategic development at the primary care trust, and Stuart Bain, chief executive of the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust, both confirmed that the provision of excellent health care services in Dover as soon as possible remained their aim.

But David Meikle, PCT director of finance and commissioning, warned that the government was cutting back funding by 20 per cent over the next four years.
Mr Bain said they had expected to have started work on the new hospital by now, with completion in 2011.

“Our surpluses will get smaller, making this project more difficult to do,” he said.

However, redeveloping the Buckland Hospital site would not contribute to the regeneration of the town centre.

The new hospital facilities would include a birthing centre, minor injuries, day case procedures, outpatients and radiology.

Recommendations will be made to the PCT board in November, when a decision will be made.