Hugh Robertson calls for new Maidstone Hospitals Trust to serve local people

Hugh Robertson has called for a better representation for Maidstone residents on a new hospitals' trust board.

Hugh Robertson, the MP for Mid Kent, has called for better representation for Maidstone residents on a new hospitals’ trust board. The call came at a public meeting, organised by The Downs Mail and the Kent Messenger, at Maidstone Leisure Centre.

The meeting heard that the first of the MP’s demands, for the resignation of all members of the board in post at the time of the C Diff outbreak, had already been met with the resignation of the Chairman, Chief Executive and all the non executive directors. The second demand, to stop the loss of hospital services to Tunbridge Wells, is currently under consideration by the Secretary of State.

However, it was the third demand, that Maidstone should be better represented on a new trust, which drew greatest support:

Hugh Robertson said,

“In any hospitals trust combining Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, it is vital that Maidstone is fairly represented. An undue concentration on delivering the new PFI hospital at Pembury was one of the main causes of the recent C Diff outbreak.

In the longer term, the key is for Maidstone to have its own trust run by local people. Foundation status could have a key role to play here but it is vital that Maidstone’s needs are never ignored again”.