Health consultation - the devil is in the detail

Anne Main comments on publication of "Delivering quality health care for Hertfordshire"

Following the long awaited publication of "Delivering quality health care for Hertfordshire" Anne Main, MP for St Albans, made the following observations and comments:

• The "Super Hospital" is, as we have long known, 'dead.' Sadly the QEII is a victim of budgetary pressures. The document prepares for a movement of services from the QEII to Lister. Given transport links are poor I have concerns about how my constituents are supposed to access the Lister on public transport.
• The consultation claims "excess land at the QE11 Hospital site could be sold" and despite assurances that there should be at least a "general Hospital" on the Hemel and QEII sites the documents admits that "the business case process will test out whether there are better sites available within close proximity," which allows for the scenario that QE11 and indeed the Hemel Hospital could close completely.

"We now have final confirmation of the extent of the changes and cuts proposed for our local NHS services.

"If these configurations are to proceed we really ought to have a concrete assurance as to what we can expect to remain. Lives are precious - my constituents must expect to have a truly comprehensive range of services within their reach and the devil will be in the detail."

"I have long been pushing for a better deal for St Albans and I welcome the proposed growth in elective surgery and the enhanced out of hours service proposed for the St Albans City Hospital which will go some way towards improving the access to NHS services but I am still deeply unhappy about the move of the acute services to Watford.""