Local forums focus on competing hospitals Local forums focus on competing hospitals (February 04, 2004)

The first of at least four community forums organized out of concern for plans to build two competing hospitals near each other in South San Mateo County is set for Wednesday, February 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers in Redwood City.

The forums are being led by a task force appointed by the Board of Supervisors to study issues related to plans announced by Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City to rebuild its facilities, and by the Palo Alto Medical Foundation to build a full-service hospital and medical complex nearby, either in San Carlos or Redwood City.

The plans have raised concerns among county leaders. They and others in the medical community have questioned whether the area can support two hospitals -- both of which would be built near Kaiser hospital, which is greatly expanding its Redwood City facilities.

The purpose of the forums is to gather information and comment from the public, identify issues that need to be addressed, and share the findings with the "supervisors, city councils and the various health-care organizations in order to make more informed decisions," according to a release issued by Supervisor Jerry Hill.

Other meetings are set for February 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the SamTrans auditorium, 1250 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos; March 18 at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Sports Complex & Conference Center, 550 Island Parkway, Belmont; and April 8 at 7 p.m. in Menlo College's Brawner Hall, Room 407, in Atherton.

A fifth meeting will be held "only if needed" on April 26 at 7 p.m. in the SamTrans auditorium.

The supervisors' chambers, where the first meeting will be held, are at Marshall and Winslow streets, in the county Civic Center.

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