news story

30th August 2007

Local MP Takes Frenchay Fight to Secretary of State

Northavon MP Steve Webb has signalled his determination to take the fight to save Frenchay Hospital to the top, following a decision this week by the Parliamentary Ombudsman not to investigate the planned closure.

Steve Webb and the Save Frenchay Hospital Group had submitted a complaint to the Ombudsman asking her to look into whether the way the Frenchay decision was taken amounted to 'maladministration' leading to an injustice for local residents.

After many months of consideration the Ombudsman has now written to the campaigners to say that she does not believe that the issue falls within her remit. One of the reasons is that any 'injustice' caused by the downgrading of Frenchay will happen in the future, and therefore it is not currently possible to demonstrate that an 'injustice' has been caused.

Now that this avenue has been closed, Steve Webb has indicated that he will be writing to the new Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, asking for a face-to-face meeting and calling for an independent review of the plans for Frenchay.

Steve Webb said:

"I am naturally disappointed that the Ombudsman does not feel that she can investigate the way the decision to downgrade Frenchay was taken. In my view, although there were a number of consultation meetings and leaflets, the overwhelming view among the local people who contact me is that they either knew nothing about them or that their voice was not listened to when they did take part.

"I will now be seeking a face-to-face meeting with the new Health Secretary who has said he wants health decisions to reflect the concerns of local people. This will be a chance for him to prove that he means what he says".