Minister hears hospital concerns
Concerns about the Newark Healthcare Review were presented to a Government health minister in Westminster this morning.
The MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, and the secretary of the Say YES to Newark Hospital campaign, Mr Paul Baggaley, met with Mr Simon Burns about changes at Newark Hospital.
Mr Burns said the health secretary, Mr Andrew Lansley, would reply to a request for a full independent review of the changes by mid-February.
Assurance was given that a strategic overview of how Newark Hospital plans to increase its capacity in line with the growth in population, particularly of older people, would take place in the near future.
The meeting, also attended by local health officials, included a discussion about ambulance performance.
Mr Mercer said there were concerns about responses to calls in the rural NG22 and NG23 postcode areas, to the north and east of Newark. Ambulances are said to be performing well in Newark itself.
Mr Mercer said it was a useful meeting.