April Addresses Health Committee Over Community Bed Closures

9.32.59pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 27th Sep 2007

April Presents Protest Letters to Dept. of Health

The Norfolk Health Scrutiny Committee, made up of Norfolk County and District Councillors today was not convinced by the Norfolk PCT that the decision to close community hospital beds in Norfolk was the right one. After hearing from April Pond, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman for Broadland that the proposals to close beds was based purely on finances, and that they should vote with their instincts, and from Liz Jones, Chair of Aylsham Town Council, that the PCT had not answered questions or consulted properly, the Councillors voted to question the PCT further as they felt unhappy with the plans that had been put forward.

April Pond said "I am very happy that Councillors listened and chose to postpone the decision, as I am convinced these proposals have dreadful consequences for us as Norfolk people. However they must go further and reject the PCTs plans. This would force the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, to review the PCTs decision. Already more than a thousand Aylsham residents have written to him voicing their opposition to Norfolk PCT's plan to close St Michael's."