Kennedy calls for Health Secretary to intervene to save Wells Hospital

5.17.55pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Apr 2005

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, who visited North Norfolk last Thursday, has written to Health Secretary John Reid to ask for his intervention on the issue of the closure of Wells Hospital.

"I met with Peter Rainsford who is leading the campaign to reopen the hospital and to safeguard its future," said Mr Kennedy.

"I also met with local councillor, Joyce Trett, together with North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb."

"I found the arguments put forward to me by Peter Rainsford to be compelling as to why the future of this hospital needs to be safeguarded. Norman Lamb has also briefed me about plans by the Primary Care Trust to transfer Wells Hospital to a palliative care charity. This emerged from papers obtained by Norman Lamb under the Freedom of Information Act. It also became clear that the Department of Health had intervened to stop any such plans proceeding because it would be 'politically unacceptable'".

Mr Kennedy has asked Health Secretary John Reid to confirm that 'it would be just as politically unacceptable to close this hospital after 5th May as it is now' and has called on Mr Reid to intervene to ensure that the hospital can reopen and that its future can be secured.