News story
18th August 2003
MP Launches Massive Consultation on Hospital Closure Plans
Northavon MP Steve Webb has launched a massive consultation with local
residents over plans to downgrade hospital facilities at Frenchay
Hospital. The MP has designed a survey which has now been printed and is
currently being delivered by volunteers to over 40,000 households across
the Northavon constituency. The survey asks detailed questions about the
views of local residents on possible changes to hospital services in the
area. These include the possible closure of an Accident & Emergency
department at either Frenchay or Southmead and more radical proposals to
concentrate most of the Trust’s activities on a single site.
The MP has launched his survey in response to concerns that the whole
consultation process is being dominated by the interests of Bristol
residents to the neglect of the people of South Gloucestershire. Paper
copies of the survey will be delivered over the coming weeks across the
area, but residents are welcome to complete the survey online via the
MP’s web site.
To complete the survey online, click
here.
Steve Webb said:
“I am profoundly concerned that financial pressures on the local NHS are
going to lead to cutbacks in our key hospital services and to the
possible closure or downgrading of Frenchay. The discussions so far have
been dominated by the concerns of Bristol residents. It is no
coincidence that the blueprint for our area is called the “Bristol”
Health Services Plan, and is being headed up by Hugh Ross, the former
Chief Executive of the Bristol Royal Infirmary. I believe that it is
vital that the views of South Gloucestershire residents are properly
represented and I therefore urge as many local people as possible to
respond to my survey, either in paper form or via my web site.”
Replies from the survey will be analysed and a detailed report will be
presented to the Strategic Health Authority and to local NHS Trusts and
will form the basis of Steve Webb’s campaigning on this issue over the
coming months. The MP has also pledged to seek Parliamentary time to
make sure that government ministers are aware of the strength of local
feeling on this issue.
To read my column on this issue in
the Bristol Evening Post, click here.
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