MP hits out after vascular move confirmed (From Warrington Guardian)

MP hits out after vascular move confirmed

4:00pm Thursday 17th January 2013 in News

WARRINGTON north MP Helen Jones has slammed health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s decision to not conduct a full review into whether some vascular services will be moved from Warrington Hospital.

The change involves patients requiring complex surgery being sent to the Countess of Chester Hospital which would become a vascular specialist centre.

A number of councillors opposed the move raising concerns including access and transport.

But after the decision was referred to the health secretary, an Independent Reconfiguration Panel said it ‘found no compelling evidence to contradict’ the choice of Chester Hospital becoming a centre of excellence.

Helen Jones said: “It is clear that the secretary of state has not listened to the submissions from local councils and local people.

“David Cameron told us before the election that reconfigurations would only go ahead if they had local support.

“Clearly this one doesn’t and approving it represents a broken promise by the Tory Liberal Government.”