Mike Penning welcomes report which proves Hemel's hospital should not be run down.

Mike Penning has welcomed a report commissioned by the Department of Health and undertaken by the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges which says that most District General Hospitals should be allowed to keep their A&E. The report which is published in today’s Health Service Journal states that there is no evidence to support the centralisation of high-volume, non-complex cases and most district hospitals should be able to “provide a full emergency service”.

Commenting on the report, Shadow Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said:

“We welcome this report. Gordon Brown is misleading patients by saying that District General Hospitals should be downgraded. Sir Derek Wanless said so in his report last week and now the Royal Medical Colleges back up what David Cameron and I have been saying; that these hospital closures are being driven by financial deficits, the European Working Time Directive and the Government’s belief that bigger is better despite public outcry at limited access.

“Hospital closures are not being driven by clinical evidence.”

Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, where the local A&E is under threat added:

”No matter which way you look at it, the closure of Hemel’s A&E is a cost-cutting exercise and not remotely connected to providing a better healthcare service for the people of Hemel Hempstead.

“This is yet more proof that Hemel’s hospital shouldn’t be run down and closed.”