18 January 2007
PM won’t step in to save Hemel hospital
Hemel MP, Mike Penning, got a rare chance to question the Prime Minister directly during Prime Minister’s Question Time in the House of Commons yesterday. Drawn fifth in the MPs ballot, Mike told the PM that the huge investment in Hemel hospital - both before and since this Government came to power – is being thrown “down the drain”. Mike told a packed House of Commons:
“The award-winning birth unit has been closed, the cardiac unit is being closed, the accident and emergency unit is being closed and the intensive care unit is being closed. I could go on…” In reply, the Prime Minister told the House:
“…as a result of the desire to centralise specialist services at Watford there will be far better specialist care for patients.” He added: “…there has been massive additional investment in his [Mike’s] area. That is why there are more nurses, more doctors and shortening waiting times.” Afterwards, Mike Penning said: “The Prime Minister refuses to address the fundamental issues that worry the people of Hemel Hempstead. No one in their right mind would choose the Watford hospital site as a suitable location to best serve the people of West Hertfordshire. Hemel people are right to fear that ambulances will not get to the hospital in time. The Prime Minister could save our hospital but he is not even interested in coming to see the situation for himself.” | 