Cornish Lib Dem MPs Meet Health Secretary To Discuss Crisis In NHS

11.08.42am GMT Thu 30th Nov 2006

The Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt

Following the meeting in the Commons today with the Health Secretary, Rt. Hon Patricia Hewitt MP, Cornish MPs, Andrew George, Julia Goldsworthy and Dan Rogerson reported that the current strategic review of hospital services in Cornwall would need to be closely monitored.

The MPs met the Health Secretary today to discuss with her reflections following her visit to Cornwall on 14th November.

The Health Secretary repeated her claim that the Hospitals Trust had, last year, appointed 250 more clinical staff then it needed.

But Andrew George, who had secured a letter from the Chairman of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (attached), disputed the Secretary of State's interpretation, pointing out that the extra staff numbers were a 'calculation' to meet a temporary requirement of the Trust and any additional staff were appointed on 'fixed term contracts'.

The Health Secretary also put great store on the current 'strategic review' which is now chaired by Professor Nick Bosanquet who the Health Secretary described as 'excellent'.

Mrs Hewitt also promised that Cornwall, along with the rest of the country, would receive more 'growth money' next year but she was not prepared to offer any extension of the existing loan to cover the Hospitals' Trust deficit.

Finally, Mrs Hewitt made no promises about the future of Cornwall's hospitals but did repeat her view about the secure future of St Michael's.

Mr George said: "We made very clear to the Health Secretary the very deep concern of local communities across Cornwall about the need to protect the future of both West Cornwall and St Michael's Hospitals and the need not to put all her eggs into one basket in Treliske."

Julia Goldsworthy MP said: "The situation will have to be closely monitored. It is clear that the Health Secretary is putting great store on the strategic review producing a result which will please our constituents across Cornwall."

Mr Rogerson said: "Trust deficits are affecting waiting times for diagnostic services and I will follow up the issues I raised about waiting times for bone scans for Cornish patients."

This evening, Mr George will deliver a petition in the House of Commons Chamber calling for the protection and investment in hospital services in the west of Cornwall.