News story

23rd December 2004

Health Authority Must Listen to Public Over Frenchay

Northavon MP Steve Webb has called on the local health authority to listen to the public when it draws up plans in the New Year about the future of local health services. The MP was commenting in the light of a survey conducted by South Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust which found strong public support for maintaining a major hospital, including a full casualty unit, at Frenchay Hospital.

The large-scale telephone survey found that South Gloucestershire residents favoured Frenchay by a majority of 71 per cent to 17 per cent (with the remainder having no preference). This result almost exactly mirrored the findings of Steve Webb's earlier survey of his own constituents, who also gave their strong backing to Frenchay. Perhaps more surprisingly, the PCT survey also showed a narrow vote in favour of Frenchay among Bristol City residents, by 39 per cent to 35 per cent.

Commenting on the results, Steve Webb said:

"In deciding where to put key services like casualty departments, local health chiefs must not ignore the public's priorities - otherwise, what is the point of these endless consultation exercises? It would be outrageous if we end up with a situation where Frenchay is downgraded leaving two major casualty departments in Bristol and none in South Gloucestershire. The people of South Gloucestershire have made their views very clear in this consultation process and health chiefs have a duty to listen".

Early in the New Year the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority will be preparing detailed proposals for the re-organisation of local hospitals and health services, and a final decision is due to be taken by Trust Chief Executives at a meeting in March.