HEMEL HEMPSTEAD HOSPITAL

That this House notes the report of the College of Emergency Medicine, The Way Ahead 2008 to 2012, which concluded that there is no evidence of the clinical or financial benefit of the urgent care model; further notes that the Government's proposals are clinically unproven and against the principle of patient choice of access to proper emergency care; is gravely concerned at the decision to downgrade services at Hemel Hempstead Hospital, including the closure of its 24-hour accident and emergency department and loss of maternity services; regrets the shortcomings of the consultation process, which has jeopardised the future of Hemel Hempstead as an acute general hospital; and deeply regrets the outcome of the judicial review which did not rule against this planned downgrading.