Local Hospitals Scare

6.20.48am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 25th Sep 2006

NHS facing possible A & E closures in Surrey

Cllr Sue Smith, Leader of Woking Borough Council, is gravely concerned at the news that more local health services, including A&E at the Royal Surrey are under threat. This is bound to cause concern for Woking residents who use the hospital. Due to under funding by the Labour Government, health facilities across the whole of Surrey are under review.

Cllr Smith has asked the Chief Executive of Woking Borough Council to find out how Woking people are likely to be affected. Many local residents use the Royal Surrey especially those living to the South of the borough.

Sue states "Local people deserve better health services not more cuts. Already too many people have to endure long waits for treatment and closing an A&E facility of a District General Hospital plucks the very heart from the hospital. Closing the facility at Guildford could only put intolerable pressure on the already busy A&E at St Peters, having lost Ashford A&E in February. Emergency cases would have to travel much greater distances through congested roads to reach hospitals outside the local area putting lives at risk"