Minister visits hospital at centre of A&E reconfiguration row

Patrick Mercer MP (Con), who had originally supported the proposals, is now asking for them to be “called in” by health secretary Andrew Lansley. Mr Mercer said he had been led to believe there would be little more than a change of name for the service, but NHS Nottinghamshire County has approved all blue light emergencies going elsewhere with one ward likely to close, at least temporarily.

“I think that we have been misled,” said Mr Mercer.

He is also unhappy with the PCT’s plans to rename A&E “minor injuries unit plus” preferring “urgent care centre”, as do clinicians at Sherwood Forest Hospitals Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital.

Four public governors at the hospital trust wrote to the PCT during the consultation, warning bed reductions could affect the viability of Newark Hospital and that there was no long term commissioner-supported strategy for the hospital.

A PCT spokesman welcomed Mr Burns’ visit, saying, “we have worked very hard to describe the issues in a consistent and open way”.