Lib Dems Take Hospital Funding Campaign To Whitehall

9.22.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 11th Sep 2006

Malvern Hills District Council Leader, Di Rayner joined West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt, to deliver their call for more cash to the Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt in Whitehall.

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt, was joined in London today [Monday 11 September] by Malvern Hill District council leader, Di Rayner, to deliver a message to Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, calling on the government to release cash to help build a new community hospital in Malvern.

The Lib Dem candidate presented a letter with supporting petitions from across the district calling for Malvern to be given top priority for government cash.

Richard Burt said: "I have asked the Health Secretary to grant the Primary Care Trust's bid for extra cash and left her in no doubt about the strength of local support, with hundreds of Malvern district residents giving their backing through our local newspaper and website campaign.

"We believe that Patricia Hewitt must now put her money where her mouth is and make Malvern a top priority when it comes to sharing out the cash available for community hospitals this year.

"Money for Malvern now could make all the difference to the quality and affordability of a PFI contract for the new community hospital," said Richard.

Councillor Di Rayner said: "Malvern has a very strong case for funding because the PCT bid is one of a limited number from around the country that has already had its business case approved by the strategic health authority and successfully completed the public consultation process. After twenty years of campaigning the time for delivering is now."