Mike Penning has written to Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, calling for her to refer hospital "reconfiguration" to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.

In a written parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Health, Mike Penning has called on her to “refer the reconfiguration of hospital services by West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel."

The Independent Reconfiguration Panel was set up in 2003 to provide advice to the Secretary of State for Health on contested proposals for changes to the health service in England.

It is their remit to provide “expert advice” on “proposed NHS reconfigurations or significant service change”.

Mike Penning said:

“It seems to me that our case is exactly the sort of situation where the Secretary of State for Health should seek advice from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.

“I can’t understand why she hasn’t already sought advice in the case of the A&E at Hemel Hempstead.”

Replying on behalf of the Secretary of State, Ivan Lewis who is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Care Services told Mike Penning that they would only refer the case to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel if the local authority’s overview and scrutiny committee referred the case to the Secretary of State.

Mike has now written to County Cllr Bernard Lloyd who is Chairman of the new Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Hertfordshire urging the committee to refer the case to the Secretary of State, especially in light of the collapse of the Hatfield superhospital project and concerns about funding for Watford.