April Pond Reminds Committee That Future of Hospital Rests in Their Hands

7.10.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 3rd Sep 2008

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Broadland, April Pond, said: "The future of St. Michael's hospital in Aylsham lies in the hands of the Councilors who make up the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee. The EDP reported that the decision to close the hospital was recommended for approval by council officers, but of course they do not make the decision, the elected members do, and this was also the case over a year ago when the decision to close was first put to and deferred by the HOSC committee."

April added: "Whatever the officers recommend, it has been made quite clear that the individual councillors who make up HOSC have always been very uncomfortable with these closure plans, and have listened to the public and so far have not supported the closure. I urge them to continue listening and refer the closure plans to the Secretary of State."