MP Says Health Authority Is 'Stalinist' As She Continues To Fight Possible Hospital Merger Plans

Warrington North MP HELEN JONES continued her campaign to prevent any merger between Warrington Hospital and Whiston Hospital on the floor of the House of Commons. At Health Questions she challenged Health Minister Liam Byrne on the subject saying:

"It is clear from documents that some of us have seen that the SHA (Strategic Health Authority) is working on plans for mergers,including the merger of Warrington and Whiston hospitals."

The MP continued by saying that this was ‘totally unacceptable’ for people in her constituency who would face a 20-mile round trip to access some services. She said:

"What people want is good services provided locally."

Finally she criticised the SHA by asking the Minister,

"Does he accept that,  because of the SHA’s actions,  I,  my constituents and many Labour Members have no confidence any more in what is an increasingly Stalinist and out of touch health authority?"

Supporting HELEN JONES,  Crewe and Nantwich MP Gwyneth Dunwoody said:

"May I refute the suggestion that the SHA is Stalinist?  It is not nearly that competent."

In his response Health Minister Liam Byrne,  born at Warrington Hospital,reaffirmed that any plans to merge hospitals would have to show that they benefited patients living in the community and be subject to full public consultation.

HELEN JONES remains committed to opposing any plans which may be developed to merge Warrington hospital with Whiston and calls upon members of the hospital Board and local politicians to join her in publicly rejecting the idea.