Express & Star

David Cameron wants district hospital in Stafford

David Cameron said he wants a 'district general hospital' back in Stafford – on the day paediatric services were carved up and moved to Wolverhampton and Stoke.

Published

Campaigners are furious services have moved miles away despite the Conservatives pledging to restore a full 24-hour A&E service.

The Prime Minister told the Express & Star he wanted Stafford to have a district general hospital as he used his first major speech since the General Election to renew his vow to boost NHS funding and create a 'seven-day' service.

But children's services moved from County Hospital to Wolverhampton's New Cross and the Royal Stoke University Hospital yesterday.

Asked about paediatrics moving and the pledge by health secretary Jeremy Hunt to restore 24-hour A&E, Mr Cameron said: "I want people in Stafford to have the benefit of a district general hospital.

"That means making sure we do everything we can to have the best possible cover for A&E and for people to have their children in their local hospital. That's what Jeremy Hunt said during the election and I'm happy to repeat that today."

Mr Cameron also used the speech at the Enki Medical Practice in Handsworth, Birmingham, to hit out at critics for suggesting the NHS was not safe with the Tories, adding: "Let's remember. We're the ones that had to clear up the appalling mess at Mid-Staffordshire. We're the ones who finally gave the whistle blowers the protection they needed to speak out. We're the ones who have put quality, safety and compassion back at the heart of the NHS. I don't apologise for being angry about this."

Cheryl Porter of the Support Stafford Hospital Group said: "We had a district general hospital before this. Parents used to be able to get care for their children at a hospital on their doorstep. Mr Cameron is right the Conservatives cleared up Labour's mess, but they are the ones who have stripped life-saving services from Stafford.

Bosses at University Hospitals North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), which runs County Hospital, said once the paediatric transfer was done the trust would be 'in a position to consider the long-term strategy for A&E at Stafford."

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.