MP To Meet Hospital Bosses Over Cuts

11.12.39am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 1st Sep 2006

Vincent Cable MP is to meet the Chief Executive of Kingston Hospital next Tuesday to discuss proposals to cut 30 beds for orthopaedic and women patients.

He said: " the worry I have is that, while these proposals are being discussed with staff, there is no process of public consultation. Nor does there appear to be any coordination or planning between local hospitals, with cuts running simultaneously in Kingston and Surrey hospitals and following earlier cuts in the West Middlesex.

"It is bizarre that, with so much money flowing into the NHS, there are cuts in services taking place. I know that there are advances being made in day surgery and there is competition from the new independent treatment centres, but the public does need to be properly consulted, particularly if service cuts are involved."