MPs unite over community health services (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

MPs unite over community health services

2:59pm Friday 3rd September 2010 in Local

THREE county MPs have united to issue a detailed criticism of NHS Worcestershire’s reorganisation proposals.

Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid, Peter Luff, Mid Worcestershire MP and Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire – who all have community hospitals in their constituencies – have called for a total rethink on the options for the future of community health services and proposed the creation of a community trust.

The three other Worcestershire MPs - Robin Walker, Mark Garnier and Karen Lumley - are less directly affected by the proposals but still associate themselves with the arguments put forward by their colleagues.

Sajid Javid said: “I am receiving clear feedback of opposition to mergers with either the mental health trust or the acute trust, from both my constituents and staff working in the community hospitals. “I strongly urge NHS Worcestershire to listen to local people and reconsider a community health trust."

"We need an urgent rethink of the future of our community services, and particularly of our hospitals. There is another credible approach that NHS Worcestershire must properly consider - a community trust."

The new structure will be responsible for a wide range of health services ranging from running the community hospitals to other crucial services, including specialist nursing services, health screening, sexual health and drug misuse rehabilitation.

The MPs wrote to NHS Worcestershire this week, in response to a series of engagement events held across the county asking for feedback from key stakeholders.