News Date: Friday 14th September 2007
RELEASE: Immediate
DATE: 10th September 2007
A GP a day will keep hospital closures away says MP
East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton has called on the people of Adur to turn out in force at next week's consultation meeting on the reconfiguration of local health services organised by West Sussex PCT, and to bring their doctors along with them.
The latest in the series of PCT consultation meetings, and the only one scheduled by the PCT in Adur, is due to take place at the Shoreham Centre in Pond Road at 7pm on Monday 17th September. Tim, who along with Worthing West MP Peter Bottomley, set up KWASH (Keep Worthing and Southlands Hospitals) campaign last year to fight the proposed cuts, is asking fellow protesters to assemble with placards from 6pm, outside the hall and make sure that every seat is taken up. Last week over 600 residents marched on the Pavilion Theatre in Worthing and an earlier meeting at the Charmandean Centre saw 400 local people locked out of the packed meeting altogether.
Tim commented:
"As the consultation progresses there is absolutely no diminishing in the support KWASH is receiving from local people who utterly reject the prospect of losing vital services such as A & E and maternity from Worthing Hospital. The people of Adur also have the opportunity to show how important we think Southlands is, particularly as part of an expanded hospital if WASH is upgraded to major hospital status as we hope.
"It is also becoming very clear that the PCT are losing the argument on both financial and clinical grounds. Their claim to speak for doctors and nurses has been met by a wall of silence, and just as consultants at Worthing Hospital have been speaking out at the threat to the lives of their patients it is essential that local GPs join the ranks of protesters. It is essential that local GPs attend this meeting and question PCT managers on the risks to their patients and make it clear that these proposals have very little support.
"Together with Peter Bottomley, Worthing consultants and KWASH chairman Tom Wye I have just written to every GP in Adur, Worthing and Arun asking them to go on record with their rejection to the consultation proposals and give the KWASH campaign their support. I would now urge all of my constituents to lobby their GPs to respond supportively and preferably come along to next Monday's meeting to make their views heard. Our lives depend on it.
"There will be a further opportunity to grill the PCT in Shoreham, this time at the Ropetackle Centre on Monday 24th September at 7pm, when the County Council Local Area Committee have organised a consultation meeting with the PCT.
"Tim is also writing to the PCT to ask them what they are doing about transport to these meetings in Shoreham given that, for example, there is no late bus service from Lancing at that time of night for residents to be able to get home."
ENDS
For more information please contact Simon Buss in the office of Tim Loughton MP and Peter Bottomley MP on 07973 187 978
