Waverley Leader speaks out against Healthcare Proposals (South West Surrey Liberal Democrats)

South West Surrey Liberal Democrats <info@swsurreylibdems.org.uk>

Waverley Leader speaks out against Healthcare Proposals

February 22, 2006 1:22 PM

Following last night's meeting of the Full Council, the Lib Dem leader of Waverley Borough Council, Councillor Gillian Ferguson has spoken out about Waverley Borough Council's concerns regarding the Primary Care Trust's (PCT) proposals for healthcare provision in the borough. She says: "The Council is united in its opposition to the PCT's proposals, which fail to take account of the recently issued Department of Health White Paper, 'A New Direction for Community Services'. These government proposals support the development of community hospitals, not the closure.

"With plans for the current PCT to cease to exist as an organisation later this year, we feel the right course of action would be for a decision on the healthcare proposals to be deferred and for the situation to be reconsidered by the new PCT. Accessible and appropriate healthcare is what Waverley residents need."

She added: "We are also greatly concerned that the proposals fail to take account of the potential cost or impact on the County Council's and Waverley Borough's roles in social care and community transport."

Supporting the leader's comments, Councillor Celia Savage, Waverley's deputy leader added: "I am shocked that the PCT's proposals have been so ill thought out and fail to recognise the impact on our local residents. For example, we need to be asking whether the PCT has consulted and costed the impact of their proposals on local hospitals such as the Royal Surrey, Frimley Park and Farnham Road."

Summing up Waverley Borough Council's view on the situation, Councillor Gillian Ferguson says: "As a Council, we are so strongly opposed to what is being proposed by the PCT that we will be taking the matter up with the Secretary of State for Health. What is being suggested is simply not good enough for local healthcare in this borough."