At a packed Prime Minister’s Questions today (3.30pm on 27th June), Michael Fabricant told Prime Minister Blair that on June 8th, just one day after the General Election, the South Staffordshire Health Authority announced their plans to close the Victoria Hospital in Lichfield and the Hammerwich Hospital in Burntwood in a bid to save £1 million per year. He told the Prime Minister that the Health Authority is currently being short-funded by around £4.75 million annually based on the target level of funding set by the Government. He asked Tony Blair that if he sent him the documentation, would he (the Prime Minister) personally look into the funding shortfall.

The Prime Minister answered that he would.

Michael will now be writing to the Prime Minister and sending him all the relevant documentation.

"Tony Blair has promised to improve public services. He has said that this time, this Parliament must be the Parliament ‘of delivery’. I hope once he has had a chance to examine the material I will send him, he will personally intervene and stop these appalling closures. This is our last hope.", says Michael Fabricant.