We sent a clear signal to Ministers and NHS bureaucrats to halt these insane closures.
The NHS funding crisis in Shropshire has been caused by the Labour Government's financial mismanagement and messy reforms. Despite big increases in health spending nationally, health inequalities are at their widest since Victorian times. So much for Labour's boasts about saving the NHS. In Shropshire they want to cut it to shreds.
But the NHS is safe in Conservative hands. Now is the time to dispel that Labour myth once and for all. As David Cameron made clear last week, 'under a Conservative Government, the NHS will remain free at the point of need and available to everyone, regardless of how much money they have in the bank'.
We also want to change the NHS into a better run, more patient-centred service. In Shropshire, that means keeping services close to patients, not eliminating community hospitals.
I have been overwhelmed by the public response. I received petitions on Saturday which I am taking to Parliament today. Over 7,000 signatures so far for each hospital is a great achievement. Thank you to everyone who has signed and helped collect signatures.
The community has spoken. They want to keep both hospitals open. I will make sure Parliament, Ministers and NHS chiefs get the message.
