Hugh stands up for Kent at Canterbury

HUGH ROBERTSON DEMANDS NEW EAST KENT ORTHOPAEDICS CENTRE AT KENT AND CANTERBURY

Hugh Robertson has insisted that a new orthopaedics unit should be located at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. His remarks come as part of his response to the consultation document on the future of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

The consultation document was launched following the Independent Review Panel's decision to prevent the downgrading of the Kent and Canterbury. He was asked to respond as a constituency MP and has also met the Canterbury and Coastal PCT to discuss his submission. In it, Hugh made the following points:

1. The new orthopaedic centre for East Kent should be based at the Kent and Canterbury for administrative and clinical reasons.

2. The Breast Surgery Centre should also be built here as the case load is too small for the Centre to be split between two sites.

3. The old fashioned facilities of the Mary Sheridan Centre should be replaced by an up to date facility within the hospital.

Hugh says: "Although some concerns remain, the findings of the Independent Review Panel give us a viable basis for progress. I hope that all bodies will now come together to move health care in East Kent forward.

"The new Orthopaedic Centre and the Breast Surgery Unit should both be situated at The Kent and Canterbury Hospital because it is centrally positioned for East Kent. If we could achieve this, the future would look extremely exciting."