Following a request received from Burntwood Town Council to see a Health Minister over the proposed closure of the Hammerwich Hospital, Michael Fabricant has contacted the Lichfield City Council and the Lichfield Hospital Comforts Fund Committee and they wish to meet with Government Ministers too.

"It is probably unreasonable to expect a Government Minister to organise several meetings over the Lichfield and Burntwood closures", says Michael Fabricant, "so I have now written to Alan Milburn (Secretary of State for Health) asking him or one of his ministerial team to meet up with a combined delegation to discuss hospital care in the area."

Before the election, ministers refused to meet the Lichfield Hospital Comforts Fund Committee when they asked for a meeting using the excuse that the Health Authority report had not been issued. "I am hopeful that now the General Election is over and the report has been published, ministers will now be prepared to meet the delegation which will travel down to Whitehall to see them" adds Michael Fabricant.