Council ‘ignored’ by MP

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Tuesday, 12 February 2019 20:26

By Carmelo Garcia - Local Democracy Reporter

Frustration is growing among town councillors who have not heard back from their MP despite writing to him three times over the closure of minor injuries units in Herefordshire.

Ross-on-Wye Town Council agreed in December to write to MP Jesse Norman to engage with Wye Valley NHS Trust over the MIU unit closure at Ross Community Hospital.

The health trust bosses decided to close the Alton Street unit from December 3 to provide safe services to patients needing urgent care at Hereford County Hospital.

The council said on Monday that they were yet to receive a response from the Hereford and South Herefordshire MP despite the council clerk emailing Mr Norman three times.

Councillor Chris Bartrum said: “This council made a formal request to our MP to engage with the Wye Valley NHS Trust.”
Town clerk Sarah Robson said she had not received a reply.

“We have now sent three emails and we are still waiting,” she said.

Councillor Bartrum said it had been 63 days since they made the request.

“This council might wish to strongly desire our esteemed MP to reply to us,” he said.

“He is the MP for the area you have previously said he would fight to the death, or something like that, to keep the hospital and the minor injuries unit open.”

Mayor Harry Bramer said he would support such a move and the town clerk will again write to Mr Norman on behalf of the council.

Mr Norman has since apologised and says he has pressed local health bosses on the issue.

“It is quite correct that the council had written to me and I can only offer my apologies for not replying,” he said.

“I was under the mistaken impression that my office had acknowledged receipt of these emails.

“However, I and my team have taken the issue seriously, as in previous years.

“I am in regular touch with Glen Burley, the Wye Valley Trust CEO on a range of local issues, but I spoke to him specifically to highlight the situation with the minor injuries unit.

“He is in no doubt about the strength of feeling on this issue.

“The Trust has committed to reopen the MIU after the Easter Bank holiday.

“But I am continuing to press Mr Burley for an early return of services to the community hospital, especially if the position improves.”

A Wye Valley NHS Trust spokesperson said the temporary minor injuries unit closures allow hospital bosses to redeploy experienced emergency nurse practitioners to provide support where it is most needed.

“Built to see around 125 patients a day, the emergency department now regularly sees more than 180 a day and has recently had days with more than 200 people attending,” he said.

“The trust’s main concern is the safety of patients with acute and emergency conditions ensuring that they are assessed, diagnosed and treated rapidly.”

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