Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

MP CALLS ON HEALTH SECRETARY TO RECONSIDER

ST HELIER SITE CLEARLY UNSUITABLE FOR NEW HOSPITAL

Crispin Blunt today called on the Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, to reconsider her decision to site a critical care hospital at St Helier. Since the Secretary of State decided to go against the advice of the Better Healthcare Closer to Home review, Crispin Blunt has been campaigning to see the decision on St Helier overturned. Surrey County Council and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council are currently seeking a judicial review of the decision. A copy of Mr Blunt’s letter to the Secretary of State is attached to this press release.

A further press release from the Better Healthcare Closer to Home review, issued today, shows that the anticipated planning problems associated with the St Helier site are worse than originally feared. Patricia Hewitt stated in December 2005 that she would be prepared to support the recommendation of Better Healthcare Closer to Home in locating the new critical care hospital at the Sutton site “should it prove not to be possible to secure planning permission for the MOL opposite St Helier, in reasonable timescales”.

On seeing the planning obstacles set out by Better Healthcare Closer to Home Reigate MP Crispin Blunt commented:

“The St Helier site is clearly hugely problematic in terms of planning permission for a new hospital. The Health Secretary knew this was likely when she took her decision and acknowledged that if planning problems caused delay then she could support the Sutton site. She should now do just that.”

Crispin Blunt went on to say:

“Patricia Hewitt intervened on this decision against the whole health establishment in Surrey and South London. In doing so she knew that her decision was highly controversial and very probably flawed. She should now do the sensible thing and back a new hospital in Sutton before endless delays mean worse healthcare across the region. The only people who can hope to benefit from a struggle to stick with the St Helier site are planning lawyers as they attempt to secure permission on Metropolitan Open Land, a precious resource with the same level of protection as the Green Belt"

Letter to Patricia Hewitt