Russell's Commons plea over hospital
December 1, 2009 12:00 AM
Bob Russell MP at Colchester General Hospital
Colchester MP Bob Russell told the House of Commons that "there is great concern and anxiety among the local population" over highly critical reports about Colchester General Hospital which has led to the dismissal of the Chairman of the Trust responsible for the Hospital.
He was speaking in a special debate after the Speaker accepted Mr Russell's request for a Government statement about the Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust.
Mr Russell told the Commons: "There is a need for urgent steps to be taken to give reassurance and to bolster the morale of staff throughout the Colchester Hospital Trust."
He added that he had attended the Trust's Annual Meeting - "and what was said there does not reflect what we are hearing now."
Mr Russell said that there appeared to be a battle between various quangos. He challenged the Secretary of State for Health, the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP:
"What we are witnessing is the consequences of a box-ticking, target-setting agenda - and that there is an urgent need for local democratic accountability."
Afterwards Mr Russell said that the Hospital Trust's grading had fallen by two grades since it was established as a Trust two years ago. He repeated his criticism of the Government's decision to abolish Community Health Councils, pointing out that the one in Colchester - which had been based in St Botolph's Street - was truly independent and he was confident would have become aware, and would have taken action, to challenge the issues of concern at Colchester General Hospital.
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