Mike Penning has condemned the closure of Hemel hospital's A&E.

Hemel Hempstead MP, Mike Penning has condemned the closure the A&E at Hemel hospital. The A&E Department closed at 11.59pm last night (11th March). All cases are now diverted to Watford.

Mike said:

“I am extremely disappointed that this has finally happened. The people of Hemel no longer have services they used to expect from their hospital. We are essentially left with an outpatients department and the new Urgent Care Centre.

“The people of Hemel have been very badly let down over this. All acute services - A&E, cardiac unit, stroke unit - are gone… and the promised new hospital at Watford looks further away than ever.

“I am very worried that be confusion, as people – not surprisingly – don’t know what the Urgent Care Centre can and cannot provide. The message needs to be got out that if someone has a heart attack, for example, don’t be tempted to rush them to Hemel hospital – call 999.”

The Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Theatre are due to close tomorrow (13th).

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