STROUD Labour Party has written to Conservative MP Neil Carmichael asking what he is doing to safeguard the long term future of Stroud and Dursley hospitals.
The questions come in the wake of last week’s announcement that the government is planning to make £22 billion of cuts to the NHS.
The Conservatives intend to close wards and cut bed numbers as well as making changes to A&E departments and GP care.
These draft sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) would affect the health service is 44 different areas. It is unknown if Stroud or Gloucestershire is among them.
NHS England, which needs to find the £22bn in efficiency savings by 2020-21, said reorganising local services is essential to improve patient care.
But the announcement about cuts to NHS budgets has further heightened fears about the long term future of Stroud General Hospital.
Proposed changes would already see the hospital’s Minor Injuries and Illness Unit (MIIU) have its overnight out-of-hours care stopped.
Stroud Labour Party, which is campaigning alongside other groups to save the unit’s 24 hour care, is concerned the changes could be the start of a slippery slope.
Cllr Doina Cornell, (Labour/Dursley) said: "The Tories have systematically taken money away from the NHS, cutting vital services that local people rely on.
"We call on Stroud's MP to stand up for the people of Stroud and protect our local hospitals - what is he doing to safeguard Stroud's health services.
"The Labour Party is fighting to save our NHS even as the Tories are destroying it.
“We're backing the NHS Reinstatement Bill when it comes to Parliament in the autumn and we hope Neil Carmichael will vote with us then."
The letter says: “We are concerned to learn the Conservative government is planning to make £22bn worth of cuts to our NHS.
“We are particularly worried about the impact these cuts would have on our local health services, particularly on the hospitals in Stroud and Dursley.
“What are you doing to safeguard these vital services for your constituents?”
The SNJ has contacted Mr Carmichael for comment.
Click here to read more about the campaign to save Stroud’s MIIU from closing overnight.
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