The concern over the possible closure of Kingston Hospital’s maternity and A & E units has taken up a lot of time but seems to have calmed down now.

Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary has confirmed that if the Conservatives win the general election, there will be a moratorium on proposed closures of maternity and A & E units. We understand there is not enough time for the Labour Government to close departments before the election.

The answer seems straightforward. If people vote Conservative at the next election, Kingston Hospital’s maternity and A& E units will remain open. Any other vote for our local MPs will put it at risk. Therefore we must vote for Zac Goldsmith in the North of the Borough and Helen Whately in the South of the Borough. They are both visited Kingston Hospital last week with Mike Penning, Shadow Health Minister and the Chief Executive has written about her plans to extend maternity provision.

NHS Kingston’s announcement that a GP led Health Centre was to be located at the Gosbury Hill site, was a bit of a shock to residents and the surgery alike. Local Lib Dem Councillors appeared to have no knowledge either. A meeting was held at the surgery only after the Chairman of the patients association wrote to NHS Kingston under the Freedom of Information Act.

The patients association asked for our help and we have had several meetings there with Helen Whately. Obviously there are major implications quite apart from whether due process was followed. Whilst everybody welcomes better health care in principle there has been no consultation process. Car parking is just one of the major issues facing residents and we are now helping the patients association with plans for a survey of local residents.