Councillors Seek Vale Hospitals Consultation

4.17.54pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 10th Jul 2006

Cllr Jenny Hannaby (left) and Cllr Alison Rooke (right)

Vale Liberal Democrat Councillors have expressed concern over the recent announcement of dates for consultation meetings to discuss the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust's plans for the future, as none are scheduled for the Vale.

The NHS Trust held a meeting in Abingdon on 21st June 2006 but very little advance warning was given so it was very poorly attended.

The plans for consultations announced in last week's Herald give details of meetings in Banbury, Brackley, Bicester, Oxford, Didcot and Witney but no more in the Vale, which faces the threat of reduced services, including the possible closure of community hospitals in Wantage and Abingdon.

Both towns have seen campaigns to safeguard their community hospitals in particular, including petitions signed by over a quarter of residents in both Wantage and Abingdon. The latest announcement by the NHS Trust of meetings in other towns in Oxfordshire has been questioned.

Wantage Councillor Jenny Hannaby said: "I am very worried by this latest announcement. Given the strength of feeling there is in the Vale over our hospitals we need consultation meetings in Abingdon and Wantage. Vale residents are already very worried about possible hospital closures and we need answers now. Any meetings need to be well advertised to give residents the chance to air their views."

Abingdon Councillor Alison Rooke said: "Unfortunately, the local NHS Trust gave residents little chance to attend the last meeting they planned in Abingdon in June and residents here need to be consulted fully. We are already involved in a campaign to safeguard our community hospitals and the beds provided in them complement the acute care offered by the NHS Trust in Oxford.

"We will therefore ask the Vale the write to the NHS Trust to request that they arrange further meetings for the Vale as soon as possible. At the very least these meetings will serve to reassure Vale residents that decisions about the future of healthcare in our district have not already been taken."