Petition to oppose WRVS changes at Wycombe and Amersham hospitals

The charity said its solicitors were in talks with Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which caused outrage when it told the charities to leave Wycombe and Amersham hospitals.

The trust wants a private restaurant firm Medirest to move from the basement at Wycombe to the WRVS site as it says it is presently not accessible by disabled people.

It is part of a wider refurbishment of the Wycombe entrance that has seen a League of Friends kiosk and a paper shop told to make way for a Costa coffee and shop, which opened this week.

This move has angered patients, volunteers say, as Costa is charging higher prices than WRVS with coffees starting at £1.55 compared to the charity’s 85p.

And bosses have told the WRVS to leave Amersham Hospital – which has been at the site for 60 years – to make way for the private provider to “improve” facilities.

WRVS spokeswoman Julia Cook said: “WRVS would like to remain at both hospitals, our solicitors are currently in discussion with the NHS Trust and as a result we are unable to comment further”.

Volunteers have collected more than 3,500 signatures at both sites for a petition opposing the move. NHS staff were among those who signed, they said.

They said the WRVS – at Wycombe for 45 years - offers more than a catering service as it is a lifeline to volunteers and patients.

Hailing the petition response as “superb” Wycombe co-ordinator Janet Thomas said volunteers “feel gutted and unloved and unwanted”.

She said: “Some of those people are trying to get back into society after a bereavement or absence from work, it is a way of getting out for them.”

Joan Luffman, 78, said “everybody was moaning” about the price of Costa.

She said of WRVS: “You get a lot of patients who are very upset and we make them a cup of tea if they are short of money.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed but we think it is a done deal.”

Janet Downing, a volunteer for 11 years, said: “It is more than a coffee bar – we are there because we want to help people.

“It is awful, it is like being made redundant. You put all those years in and they just destroy it.”

And Steve Freeman, who has run the paper shop for 30 years, said he fears for his future after being told to leave his position to make way for the new shop. He is now selling from tables in the entrance. Bosses have offered to discuss finding another site for him but he said he has heard nothing after replying.

Mr Freeman, who runs a newsagents in Desborough Road, said: “It concerns us that we would go with the rest. We just don’t know anything at the moment.”

The trust also wants Medirest to take over at Amersham, though unlike Wycombe this is not to comply with disability legislation.

A trust statement said: “Our restaurant providers also operate from Amersham and we have agreed that they will refurbish the main entrance at Amersham, improving the café and newsagent facilities on offer.”

Amersham WRVS project manager Ann Saidi said: “The trust say we have to go as we are their competition. But we were there before them – they are our competition.

”We are not just a tea bar, we help the patients.

“Some patients can wait three hours for an ambulance to take them home. We supply them with sandwiches and drinks and we don’t take any money off them.”

She said: “We feel very very let down.”

The trust said it was “still proceeding with the refurbishment of the entire main entrance area at Wycombe Hospital”.

The statement said: “We have had difficulties complying with the disability discrimination act because of our current restaurant facilities at Wycombe - in particular, there is no lift to the restaurant.

“We need to ensure that there is easier access for visitors, patients and our hardworking staff and that they have hot food provision day and night.”

It said it was “pleased” the coffee bar and shop opened this week. Vending machine facilities would be available when the refurbishment is complete, it said.

The trust said: “We are certain that these improvements will provide a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for those coming to these hospitals.”

The new shop and coffee bar – owned by Medirest parent group Compass – replaces the League of Friends shop, which was told to leave by December 31. It left just after Christmas.

Chairman Dr John Preece, a former doctor and manager at the hospital, said this had robbed the league of vital publicity and an estimated £17,000 years takings.

This cash would have been ploughed back into equipment for the hospital, he said.

Dr Preece said this week: “What they have done is disgraceful. Members of the league feel very bitter about it.”

The trust said it would be “inappropriate” to answer a Bucks Free Press question whether Medirest would pay less, the same or more rent than the charities.

The entrance redesign has caused controversy as the trust vowed last year to knock down this part of the hospital by 2012.

This could happen sooner after the Government last month said tackling mixed sex wards – which the trust struggles to banish in this part of the hospital – was a top priority (see link, right).