Hatfield Hospital campaign hits the Hatfield Farmers Market

12.38.00am GMT Mon 4th Dec 2006

Grant Shapps MP (left) and Cllr Nigel Quinton (right) collecting signatures to save the hospital

Local LibDem councillors and activists were amongst those taking part in the Farmers Market petition fest on Saturday 1st December. It was good to see so many people and parties united in their desire to preserve health provision in Welwyn Hatfield. Although most petitions on offer were to save the QEII, the Libdems have not given up on the new Hatfield Hospital. And we feel it important to point out:

• This campaign is not about our inability to accept the need for reconfiguration of services for the modern world. We in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire have already accepted the need for reconfiguration.

• Investing in your Health (IIYH) was a strategy for 21st century health care and we want to see it implemented in full. What has changed in the three years since it was published? Other than politics, and NHS disreorganisations.

• IIYH means a new hospital in Hatfield, together with the cancer centre currently in Mt Vernon, plus lots more community based services that we keep hearing about but have yet to see.

• The "decision" announced by the PCT has not been backed up by hard facts, nor any detailed justifications. The numbers do not add up, and the PCT, SHA and Department of Health need to be told in no uncertain terms that the people of this Borough are no fools. We demand better from our public servants in the NHS, and from their political masters.

Please visit our website and sign our petition to save the Hatfield Hospital - http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/hatfieldhospital

For further information call Nigel Quinton on 07971 860415, or email nigel.quinton@welhat.gov.uk