Following the sudden resignation of the chief executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust (WHHT), Anne Main calls on the Secretary of State for Health to put the ongoing consultation on hold until the new chief executive is in place.

WHHT is working with its health partners in west Hertfordshire to identify how services should meet people’s needs for the next 5-10 years. The review process is expected to last at least until the end of 2015.

After the debate, Anne wrote to the Health Secretary for clarification of his views on the matter.

Mrs Anne Main (St Albans) (Con): My right hon. Friend will be aware that the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), and I were very unhappy that the A and E was closed and moved to Watford. Since then Watford hospital has had a turbulent time. This morning the chief executive resigned, having got part-way through a process of consultation. May I ask for the consultation to be put on hold until the new chief executive is in place and has their feet under the table? We do not need more turbulence in our hospitals in west Hertfordshire.

Mr Hunt: I am sorry to hear the news about the chief executive at Watford. I am aware of the pressures there and I agree with my hon. Friend about the need for stability in management as much as possible over the next few months.

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