CHOICES for the future of the Coronation Hospital have been narrowed down - but input from Ilkley people could still change the destiny of the town's last hospital and its services.

Members of the community learned last week that the current draft consultation document could be changed, depending on the public response to the document before the end of the month.

The document currently includes three options for the hospitals future: closure of the hospital with most services being moved to a new building nearby; closure of the hospital, with most services being moved to the Airedale Hospital; or the hospital staying as it is.

Although the heads of Airedale Primary Care Trust - the hospital's owner - insist no decision has been made, there have been plenty of reasons put forward for disposing of the current building.

Once any amendments have been made to the document, it will formally be put out for public consultation. The three-month consultation period will be launched on August 1, and will end on October 31. The extra time was given following concern that some residents might miss out if they were away during the school summer holidays.

But it is not only the general public which will be involved in the consultation - Bradford Council's Scrutiny Committee also has a role to play, among other bodies such as the Airedale Community Health Council.

One of the major factors for the health services shake-up is an estimated spending deficit. A PCT officer has said there could be an 'underlying budgetary problem' in the local healthcare services to the tune of £6 million.

Saving money is one of the considerations in the Coronation Hospital draft consultation document.

Each year, the Coronation Hospital costs £530,187 to run, says Airedale PCT.

Its current services and facilities include a Minor Injuries Unit, outpatient clinics, day hospital for older people, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, X-ray department, chiropody, and healthcare psychology.

Outpatient clinics include a range of services including general surgery, urology, trauma and orthopaedics, neurology general medicine with diabetes, antenatal, family planning, and paediatric speech therapy, to name a few.

Some members of the PCT board have first-hand experience of being treated at the Coronation Hospital, and know how local people would rather be treated in Ilkley than have to travel further afield.

Airedale PCT chairman Liz Wolstenholme herself uses the services at the Coronation Hospital as a Wharfedale resident.

She says, however, that in many cases, patients who have an initial consultation or tests at the Ilkley hospital will still have to be referred to the Airedale Hospital in Keighley for more specialist treatment.

Option One would involve moving current services to a new building at the Springs Medical Centre, Springs Lane. The PCT outlined how it would not dispose of all the land on the Coronation Hospital site, to allow for potential expansion in future.

However, some question if the space available will still be large enough to provide all the current services, and how the issue of the lack of parking will be solved. The PCT assured residents that if it was to opt for a re-build, it would not stop any services at the current hospital until the new building is ready.

Under Option Two, the complete closure of the hospital, the PCT envisages retaining some services in the Ilkley area. The day hospital for older people could be re-housed in an extension to the Springs Medical Centre, along with physiotherapy, and occupational therapy may move elsewhere in the town. Most other services would be moved to the Airedale Hospital in Keighley.

Although health chiefs have not voiced great enthusiasm for Option Three - keeping the hospital open and improving it - they do not rule it out, although it may mean changes to services elsewhere.

The PCT and the NHS Trust have both made it clear before that Government money is going into the health service, but largely into Government-chosen national priorities. Priorities including making sure emergency services are provided, and healthcare for heart disease and cancer

sufferers.

Although money may not be readily forthcoming to boost the Coronation Hospital as it stands, money could be available for a scheme to build new premises for the hospital.

The PCT's director of corporate development, David Riley, told last week's board meeting that if Option One was chosen, finance could be available for a Personal Medical Services (PMS) scheme.

The PMS system is being promoted nationally by the NHS, and allows doctors, nurses and PCTs which become PMS pilot schemes to negotiate directly with their commissioner to provide the services patients want.

One reason given by various members of the Airedale PCT in support of moving services out of the Coronation Hospital building is that it will not meet the standards set by the Disability Discrimination Act, which comes into force next year.

There is no lift to enable disabled people to access the building's first floor, and Mr Riley estimates it could cost more than £60,000 to make the necessary changes.

This figure was last week challenged by PCT lay member, Vaughan Bruce, who said it would not cost this sum to install and lift and make other changes. Mr Bruce, who is himself disabled, argued that failing to fit a lift would not be discrimination, as none of the staff who use the first floor are disabled.

But PCT officers said this would go against the Act.

Airedale CHC representative, Isobel Scarborough, also asked if it would be possible to install a stairlift - although she was told this would not meet DDA requirements.

National guidelines set down by NHS Estates are also a factor in deciding the future of services, say the PCT. NHS Estates recommends that the lifespan of health care premises should be around 80 years. The original Coronation Hospital building will be 100 years old next year.

It has also been pointed out by the PCT that whatever option is chosen for Ilkley will affect healthcare services elsewhere, such as those at the Airedale General Hospital, Skipton General Hospital, and Bingley Hospital. They plan to begin consultations on services at the Bingley Hospital next.

Comments from Ilkley residents about the draft consultation document can be made in writing to: Kevin Ellis, Chief Executive, 'Ilkley Coronation Hospital Consultation', Airedale Primary Care Trust, 21a Mornington Street, Keighley, BD21 2EA, or faxed to (01535) 672639.

Copies of the current draft consultation document, and from August 1, the finalised consultation document, are available from Anthony Jones, Project Administrator, 'Ilkley Coronation Hospital Consultation' at the same address as Mr Ellis, or by calling (01535) 672635.