Concerned residents all set for important hospital meeting in Market Harborough

8.54.28pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 12th May 2010

The Primary Care Trust (PCT) for Leicestershire and Rutland looks set for a rough ride when its board meeting is held in Market Harborough on tomorrow (Thursday). the meeting is being held at the Methodist Church, Northampton Road and starts at 2 p.m.

Residents have been waiting for years for a new hospital and had expected to gather to hear the presentation of the business case for it. However, advance papers for the meeting seem to indicate that without third party funding little progress will be made and hospital care in the town will continue to be rickety.

We have seen promise after promise fail, but when the Trust accepted the invitation from Lib Dem councillor Phil Knowles to hold this meeting in public we hoped it indicated something positive. This now appears not to be the case.

Phil Knowles has described the papers as "astounding" and a slap in the face for Harborough residents from the PCT. "They talk about third-party funding as the only salvation, having dithered year in and in out. Astronomical amounts of money have been spent on consultation after consultation and we still have nothing to show for it. The PCT Board needs to look closely at the legacy of indecision and I'm sure that residents who are able to get to the meeting will make their voices heard."

County councillor Sarah Hill said she is Disgusted at the waste of time and public money that has got the people of the town nowhere. "I could see this outcome 12 months ago, so why hasn't the PCT been able to do the same and come up with a better plan?"