QEII: the next step

12:55pm Saturday 22nd March 2008

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WITH the collapse of a legal challenge to the closure of the QEII Hospital's emergency services, campaigners are rethinking their strategy.

The campaign taskforce has backed down on its threat of a judicial review over the decision to relocate emergency treatment from the QEII Hospital to Stevenage's Lister.

A public meeting to discuss the future of local hospital services and health provisions for local residents was held by the Welwyn Garden City Labour Party on Saturday at the Ludwick Family Club in Hall Grove.

The meeting, addressed by local GP Dr Peter Shilliday, threw up a list of "must-haves" for the QEII Hospital, including an enhanced GP surgery with an out-of-hours service and a patient self-management centre for people with ongoing illnesses such as diabetes to learn how to cope.

There were also calls for a transport service for patients and relatives from the borough visiting the Liste Hospital.

Labour parliamentary candidate Mike Hobday said: "Like all local residents, I am angry at the outcome of the so-called consultation.

"But it is important that we now move forwards to get the best possible deal from a bad situation."

After putting their guns in their holsters, the all-party team is pushing for the best possible services and facilities to be provided at the QEII site.

Welwyn Hatfield MP Grant Shapps said: "Ultimately a judicial review could only challenge the process, not the decision to close these services at the QEII.

"The important thing is to ensure that we keep as many services as possible and leave room for expansion at the hospital."

Lib Dem councillor Nigel Quinton added: "The priority now is to ensure the primary care trust backs our demand for more than just the bare minimum level of service in Welwyn Hatfield.

"We will need more than warm words - we want a clear commitment to the QEII site, and the inclusion of intermediate beds and a mid-wife led maternity unit."