STONE’S MP has expressed ‘extreme concern’ about proposals published this week by healthcare regulator Monitor which will effectively downgrade Stafford Hospital.
Bill Cash talked to the Newsletter in response to a report from the watchdog’s Contingency Planning Team that will see Stafford Hospital lose its maternity services, accident and emergency, intensive care unit and some of its paediatric and specialist services.
Mr Cash said in looking at the report it was clear to him that more options than those put forward needed to be considered in any plans to reconfigure the hospital.
“I’m extremely concerned and disappointed,” he said. “The reality is we need to have acute services in Stafford.
“We are not convinced by the time it takes to get to other centres like University Hospital of North Staffordshire - none of the options are satisfactory.
“I’m insisting on other options that have to be considered,” he said. “We are extremely concerned about the situation.”
