DHAG attacks Minister’s Hub claim
A local health group has criticised a claim made by a Government minister about the plan to replace Hemel Hospital with a ‘neighbourhood health centre’ (NHC) Hub
Dacorum Health Action Group (DHAG) says Karin Smyth is wrong to say the Market Square centre will bring care ‘closer to where people live’.
In fact the plans would see a big reduction in the accommodation for secondary care in Hemel
The 29-acre Hospital site, which sees over 30,000 appointments annually, will close when the health centre – on just one acre – opens.
Both sites are in the town centre, well away from the bulk of Hemel homes
NHCs will have few rooms for secondary care, emphasising prevention and community healthcare
With the closure of Hemel’s Hospital, more and more secondary appointments would almost certainly have to take place at Watford and St Albans
There would also likely be a decrease in urgent treatment, given the small size of the health centre
DHAG Chair Philip Aylett has written to the Minister offering a meeting to set out the Group’s ‘very fundamental concerns’ about the project
Dr Aylett also attacks the failure by NHS bosses to deliver on the explicit PMQs promise of ‘public consultation’ on the project, made to Hemel MP David Taylor by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
He says this failure has left ‘many residents feeling effectively disenfranchised in ensuring that their views are taken into account.’
Dr Aylett’s letter is below