Conservative Leader David Cameron today launched the campaign to save 29 general and district hospitals around the country. The campaign centres on the potential closures of accident and emergency departments and maternity units.
Mark Garnier, commenting on the campaign, said:
"I very much welcome the campaign launched by David Cameron this morning. But what is the real tragedy is that ten years after Labour came to power, and after a tripling of taxpayers' spend on NHS services, we are still seeing health service cuts.
"The truth of the matter is that Labour's record on health is appalling. This will be no surprise to Wyre Forest residents, who were the first to suffer under Gordon Brown's health service cuts when Kidderminster general hospital was closed. Kidderminster Hospital was Labour's first act of health vandalism and the carnage goes on.
"For Kidderminster, the damage is done for health. But we face further service cuts in our district. In May 2008, Post Offices will see the start of the closure process - Wyre Forest is due to lose as many as four more. Meanwhile emergency services are being re-organised with ambulance call centres being moved out of the county. With the police, we only just managed to stave off a re-organisation that was simply a service cut by another name.
"Whilst hospitals are being closed, we are being subjected to the truly dismal spectacle of Labour politicians campaigning to save their local hospital or collecting petitions for a restoration of services. Let's be absolutely clear about this: Any one who stood for election as a Labour candidate on a Labour manifesto at any of the last three general elections has demonstrated their support of these cuts. Do not be fooled by Labour politicians making hollow gestures trying to save local services."