"This is an insult to the people of Hemel Hempstead," he said.

Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, reacted angrily to the announcement by West Herts Hospitals Trust that all acute and emergency services will be moved to Watford and elective surgery to St Albans.

Responding to the announcement made at the “Post-Consultation Meeting”, Mike Penning said: “This is an insult to the people of Hemel Hempstead. Over 85% of the people who responded to the consultation wanted Hemel hospital to remain open and yet the Trust ignore this. What kind of consultation is that?”

“This so-called consultation was a sham from the start. It seems clear the Trust had no intention of listening to the views of the people it consulted and I am disgusted at the outcome. It is clear that this decision is going to have an adverse effect on the health and lives of the people of Hemel Hempstead and west Hertfordshire as a whole.”