HSSD decided to close KEVII four years ago

A DECISION was taken to close the King Edward VII Hospital in 2009, it has been revealed.

It was taken by the Health and Social Services board of the time, but was said to be a long-term plan.

HSSD has admitted that each patient costs on average £97,000 a year.

During a tour of the facility yesterday, chief officer Mark Cooke and new minister Mark Dorey revealed a breakdown of the cost of running the site's only ward – totalling just over £2.4m. of the hospital's £2.9m. overall running costs.

Of that amount, £1.92m. is spent on staff wages, another £367,000 on food, catering and housekeeping, £104,000 on utilities and maintenance, and £39,000 on medical supplies.