FUTURE OF THE ROYAL SURREY HOSPITAL

That this House recognises the vital role that the Royal Surrey Hospital plays in the provision of health services in Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire; congratulates the Royal Surrey Hospital on achieving an in-year financial surplus of £279,000 in 2005-06 with no external financial support; commends the hospital on developing its role as a centre of excellence for cancer care; recognises that the hospital has the lowest rates of mortality among NHS trusts in England; expresses alarm at rumours that the hospital may be under threat of closure due to plans to reconfigure health services in Surrey; acknowledges the widespread support for the hospital from local residents, who benefit from high quality care in an accessible location; notes that any closure of services would have a significant impact on local people, resulting in longer travel times, inconvenience and a lower standard of care; and calls on the Government urgently to clarify its intentions in relation to the future of the hospital and to safeguard this integral part of the local NHS.