Kingston Hospital's Future "Threatened by Stealth Privatisation" - Davey

1.21.15pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 23rd Oct 2006

Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton

A surprise new warning about the long term future of Kingston Hospital has been issued by Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton. Edward Davey has specifically warned that the Government's policy of giving preference to private health providers over NHS could lead to even successful local hospitals like Kingston being hit.

Edward Davey's stark warning coincides with a decision by the Government to sign a contract with a private firm, Cliniceta, to operate an Independent Centre Treatment Centre at St George's Healthcare Trust. This Centre could lead to a reduction of "standard" operations that currently bring in core revenue to Hospitals like Kingston. Edward Davey and his Liberal Democrat colleague, Susan Kramer MP, met staff at Kingston Hospital on Friday, and pledged their support against cuts.

Edward Davey said:

"Kingston Hospital is one of London's leading hospitals, yet Labour's latest drive to favour private healthcare is a real threat to its future.

"Kingston is already facing uncertainty, as more operations are being directed into primary care, with GPs performing them in their surgeries. Now the Government is destabilising an unstable situation, by its stealth privatisation of the NHS.

"Health experts tell me that London has too many hospitals, and that hospitals like Epsom are already under threat. Yet this Government's response is to give special preference to yet more facilities in South West London, with this new independent centre at St.George's.

"Even before this latest threat, Kingston Hospital is facing some difficult cuts, with the prospect of compulsory staff redundancies. Now there can be no certainty where it will end.

"Anyone who believes in the NHS should be alarmed that both Labour and Conservative politicians now appear ready to see private providers run amok, creaming off the easy "standard" operations from efficient hospitals like Kingston.

"I will be raising these serious concerns with Ministers and campaigning hard to protect our local hospitals."