Health Minister tells Claire Perry the Savernake MIU closure has "passed the point of no return"

Yesterday our MP, Claire Perry spoke on the lack of a Minor Injuries Unit in Devizes constituency in an Adjournment Debate in Westminster Hall.

Guy Oppenham, one of the barristers from 3 Paper Buildings who worked for more than two years on the judicial review over closures of parts of Savernake Hospital, including the MIU, was present in his new capacity as MP for Hexham.

Claire spoke of “....a slow and steady erosion of our local health services, despite the protests of clinicians, patients and politicians.” She stressed how journey times to the suggested alternative MIUs were extended, especially for the 25% of people in the constituency without full-time access to private transport. Claire also thanked numerous organisations and areas of the local community for their tireless campaigning.

The Minister of State, Department of Health, Simon Burns responded, after thanking Claire Perry by saying,

“...Given where we are at the moment and the processes that have taken place in her county and constituency on reconfiguration of services, I am unable to ask the NHS to open previously conceded processes, or to halt those that have passed the point of no return. I know that that will disappoint my hon. Friend, but I am afraid that at the moment we are where we are because of previous decisions and the degree to which they are in process.”

Guy Opperman questioned these comments given that the hospital is “pre-existing, prepaid and sitting there.... and capable of being used."

To summarise Mr. Burns response, he advised Mrs Perry to continue campaigning over the next 3 years at which point, in 2013, the PCTs will have been phased out. He explained that at that point any campaign by the community could be considered. A more detailed summary of the debate should be on Marlborough People later today.

You can watch Claire’s speech on the Parliament Channel archives, or read the full Hansard Transcript.