St Mary's NHS Treatment Centre name change called 'stupid' as people vow to ignore rebrand

PEOPLE have given a cold reception to a planned name change at St Mary's in Portsmouth.

Private health firm Care UK has split itself into two divisions – and has decided to rename St Mary’s NHS Treatment Centre.

As reported, it will now be known as – at least in theory – Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre St Mary’s.

Readers of The News raised a collective eyebrow at this, branding it ‘stupid’ and asked: ‘What's wrong with just St Mary's Hospital?’

We broke the news last Friday and the reception was underwhelming.

Comments flooded in on our Facebook page.

Lynn Budden said: ‘That just rolls off the tongue.

‘Someone's been reading Charles Dickens. Why use one word when 20 will do!’

Will Travaglini, clearly a stickler for brevity, added: ‘I mean, it's all unnecessary, but is the UK bit at the end really needed?

‘It's hardly going to be “Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre St Mary’s After Care Indo-China” is it?’

Ollie Robinson added: ‘Rolls off the tongue, that.’

Unimpressed Jackie Stokes said: ‘What a stupid name and an even bigger waste of time and money to change everything.’

Bosses at the treatment centre in Milton Road, Milton, said the new name ‘reflects the levels of surgery’ carried out at the site.

But Sharon Bacon said people were often confused between the centre and Saint Mary's Community Health Campus.

Carla Brown replied and said: ‘People are stupid and would get confused no matter what the buildings are called, this is just an extreme name.’

Signs are set to be in place soon with the new name.

Char Potts and Max Higgins spoke for many city residents in their responses to the news.

Char said: ‘So still St Mary’s then.’