Tories defend hospital 'at risk' list

Wednesday, 22 August 2007 12:00 AM

The Conservatives are standing by their claim at least 29 district general hospitals are at risk of losing their maternity or accident and emergency services, despite rebuttals from some of the NHS trusts themselves.

Labour MP Tom Watson called on David Cameron to apologise for his "ill judged scaremongering about the NHS" after health service staff and patients complained they had not been warned about possible closures.

The Conservatives drew up their 29-strong "at risk" list from media reports and consultations. It was released as Mr Cameron promised a "bare knuckle fight" over the NHS, as the Tory leader tried to rebound from a summer of negative press.

Despite criticism, Mr Cameron last night stood by the list and said it was up to the government to prove hospital services were not at risk.

However, the Conservatives said Altrincham general hospital in Cheshire had been wrongly included on the list, as it has neither a maternity unit nor A&E department. Instead, the report should have listed Trafford hospital.

King's Lynn hospital also demanded an apology after the report claimed its maternity services were at risk, based on government statements about the viability of units in low demand areas.

The local Tory MP Henry Bellingham independently apologised to the Queen Elizabeth hospital and warned Mr Cameron to consult with local trusts in future.

Mr Bellingham said: "Obviously a mistake has been made and as a local MP I wasn't consulted on this, and I apologise unreservedly to the staff of the hospital."

The Conservatives were embarrassed when it emerged a hospital in Mr Cameron's own constituency had been wrongly included. An initial list released by the Conservatives said Horton hospital's A&E unit was under threat.

But the chair of Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust denied this was the case. Sir William Stubbs said the reverse was in fact true, as the trust had voted for additional funds for consultant and nursing provision at the A&E.

Other hospitals named on the danger list have also doubted the claim, as commentators suggest the Conservatives' attempt to recapture the initiative on the NHS has backfired by alienating grassroots staff.

Mr Watson concluded: "Will David Cameron now admit that his document made a number of false accusations and say sorry?"

The Conservatives have promised to release new information explaining why the named hospitals are at risk.

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