A furious Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, said in reaction to the announcement:
“Any pretence of consultation is nothing but pure sham.” The Trust is presenting the case as three options, but few believe that anything other than ‘Option B’ is really being considered. For Hemel, Option B has the worst possible outcome with acute services being located at Watford and planned services at St Albans – and basically very little remaining at Hemel. Mike Penning continued:
“The Trust is trying to dupe the people of Hemel with a so-called ‘public consultation’. No consultation of the people of Hemel Hempstead would result in anything other than keeping the hospital open! The decisions have already been made, 90% of the hospital site has been earmarked to be sold off for development. This is a disaster for the people of Hemel.”
“It is an appalling situation. The Secretary of State and the West Herts Hospitals Trust have now effectively ended hospital services in Hemel Hempstead.” | 
