HASLEMERE Town Council has appointed a new group to monitor proposed changes in the National Health Service and the impact this could have on the town and surrounding areas. The Health Service Group will be made up of town councillors in an attempt to provide a "clear voice for Haslemere" during the coming consultation by Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT) on the 'Fit for the Future' programme. The council has shown support for the 'Save The Royal Surrey' campaign by displaying a banner at Haslemere Town Hall. The town council has also written to the PCT registering their interest in the coming consultation, and welcomes further comments from Haslemere residents. Robert Knowles (pictured below), a member of the Town Council Health Service Group, said: "This is a very important issue for the people of the Haslemere area and the town council. "In a recent local independent survey showed health as the most important issue to households, equal with crime. "Proposals already published by West Sussex PCT may result in the closure of accident and emergency at St Richards, Chichester. "This is one of the accident and emergency hospitals that residents of the Haslemere area, especially to the south, can be sent to and the town council is determined that the Surrey and West Sussex border area should not be forgotten by the PCT."
