Thousands Back Hospital Petition (Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats)

Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats <info@oxwablibdems.org.uk>

Thousands Back Hospital Petition

June 22, 2006 11:25 AM

Vale Liberal Democrats have welcomed the submission of a petition from Abingdon and Wantage calling on the South Eastern and South Western Oxfordshire Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to safeguard community hospitals across southern Oxfordshire.

The petitions, organised by the mayors of Abingdon and Wantage were signed by over a quarter of the populations in both Vale towns. Similar petitions were organised in Wallingford and Didcot,

The completed petitions were presented to the joint meeting of the South Eastern and South Western PCTs on 22nd June, which was held in Wantage. The petition seeks to guarantee that community hospitals in the four towns remain open to provide quality local care. They call on the PCTs to provide the level of service they currently do 'for the good of all local populations'.

Vale and Abingdon Councillor Alison Rooke said: "This petition has been avowedly non-political since I helped to set it up as Mayor of Abingdon earlier this year. We have worked with other groups to collect as many signatures across the affected towns in the south of Oxfordshire and I am delighted that over 8,500 Abingdon residents and 4,500 in Wantage/Grove - a quarter of our populations - have supported us, along with thousands of signatories from all the other towns.

The number of signatories clearly shows the strength of feeling which exists in Abingdon and across southern Oxfordshire. The PCTs must recognise this and work with us to develop solutions which will safeguard free to patient healthcare in Oxfordshire and which will address the issues they face. We are seeking dialogue not confrontation and I think this petition puts a pretty big marker in the sand which it would be foolish for the PCTs to ignore."