Future of Kent and Canterbury

HUGH ROBERTSON SPEAKS OUT FOR FAVERSHAM DURING KENT AND CANTERBURY HOSPITAL DEBATE

Hugh Robertson spoke up in Parliament yesterday about the problems facing his constituents in Faversham and the surrounding villages over the proposed downgrading of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. It is the hospital in which he was born. His remarks came as part of an Adjournment Debate secured by Julian Brazier, the MP for the constituency in which the hospital is sited.

During his speech, Hugh paid generous tribute to CHEK (Concern for Health in East Kent) whom he described as "having done marvellously well to keep the campaign going.

"Hugh said that his constituents faced six particular problems in addition to the more general ones facing everybody affected by the downgrading of the hospital. These were:-

1. The transport difficulties involved in getting to Margate or Ashford and the lack of public transport facilities.

2. Canterbury's geographical position at the hub of East Kent made it the most suitable site of all three for a hospital.

3. The government's plans for extra house building in Kent will dramatically increase demand for all three existing hospitals.

4. There was a lack of alternative medical facilities locally.

5. There are pockets of severe deprivation around Faversham where constituents are heavy users of the Health Service. They would feel disenfranchised by any changes.

6. The continuing uncertainty over the future of the hospital was extremely unsettling for constituents and, indeed, all the staff of the hospital.

In response, the Minister, Hazel Blears, announced that the proposed restructuring would be referred to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.

Hugh concluded: "The Minister's announcement of a referral to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel is extremely welcome. We have always argued for an objective, independent examination and this meets those criteria. We just need to be careful about the panel's terms of reference.

"The proposed downgrading is simply the wrong option at the wrong time. I urge the Minister, in the strongest possible terms, to reconsider her decision."