MINISTERS REFUSE TO MEET CROSS-PART DELEGATION OVER BICESTER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

Tony Baldry MP says Ministers still have to explain failure to deliver promised new hospital

Bicester MP, Tony Baldry, has expressed his disappointment that Minister's are unwilling to meet a cross-party delegation to discuss the future of the Bicester Community Hospital.  Ministers promised Bicester a new and enlarged hospital in 1998 - but the new hospital has never been delivered.

The proposed meeting followed a speech by Tony Baldry at a recent public meeting.  In the speech, which included new information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, Tony Baldry outlined how former Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt MP, had put pressure on the Trust to build a primary care centre without beds.

Tony Baldry wanted to take a delegation, including the Mayor of Bicester and members of the League of Friends, to see the Government.  But Health Minister Ben Bradshaw MP said neither he nor fellow Health Minister Dawn Primorolo MP could make any meeting "due to diary commitments".

Tony Baldry MP said:

"It is extremely disappointing that Health Ministers, who made a clear commitment to support a new Community Hospital at Bicester almost a decade ago, are unwilling to explain face to face to an all party delegation why the Government has failed to deliver that commitment."