HASLEMERE'S MP has written to the new Health Secretary Alan Johnson, inviting him to visit the under threat Royal Surrey County Hospital. South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt has written the letter jointly with Guildford MP Anne Milton, urging Mr Johnson to observe the good work carried out at the Guildford hospital. The previous Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt, refused repeated requests to visit. Mr Hunt said: "Alan Johnson has announced a review into the future of the NHS that he said will involve patients, doctors, nurses and other practitioners, so the best way for him to understand what is happening on the ground is for him to visit hospitals like the Royal Surrey that are beacons of best practice in health service provision. "I hope he will accept our offer and show that, unlike his predecessor, he wants to engage with the health sector and its professionals and patients." Anne Milton said: "I know that all of us fighting to save the Royal Surrey were disappointed that Patricia Hewitt could not make the journey from London to Guildford, to see for herself what a magnificent job the Royal Surrey does in looking after local people in and around Guildford. I hope that Alan Johnson will take up our offer. "Uncertainty over the future of our local hospital has been hugely damaging for staff, patients and local people alike. "I sincerely want the Secretary of State to come down to Guildford so he can see first hand why we must keep the Royal Surrey open." Mr Hunt and Ms Milton have long campaigned to save the under threat accident and emergency unit at the Royal Surrey. Last month, both MPs expressed their anger at further delays to Surrey Primary Care Trust's (PCT) consultation over the future of the hospital. Both expressed grave fears that the delays could create widespread chaos and confusion for patients and staff at the hospital. At the time Mr Hunt expressed his frustration that those concerned over the future of the hospital were still unable to make their voices heard. In a statement released at the time Surrey PCT said it had always made it clear that public consultation on any proposals for local health services would only taken place when necessary work had been completed. In May this year, Mr Hunt and Ms Milton published a booklet calling for the Royal Surrey County Hospital's accident and emergency department to be saved. The MPs gathered "a wealth of robust evidence" which they claimed set out a strong case to keep the accident and emergency department at the Guildford hospital. The booklet highlights the outstanding performance of the accident and emergency department, the effect the current funding structure has had on Surrey's NHS finances and what would happen if the department closed. In the booklet's introduction, Mr Hunt and Ms Milton said: "We believe that the following research highlights how short-term financial objectives are being placed ahead of patient care and safety and are leading to a potentially reckless reduction in services to provide healthcare in the county. "We believe there is clear, medical evidence to maintain all of the services on offer at the Royal Surrey County Hospital. At the time Mr Hunt told the Herald: "We have heard from so many local residents concerned about the proposed closure of the Royal Surrey that we decided we needed to put the evidence together in a way that health bosses could not ignore. "Our research shows clearly that 2,000 lives would be put at risk if the accident and emergency was closed. "I challenge the Primary Care Trust to prove us wrong or drop their ill thought out plans." The booklet was welcomed by Chris Marks, chairman of the 'Save The Royal Surrey' campaign, who thanked Mr Hunt and Ms Milton for their efforts to highlight "the overwhelming case against closure or cuts to our much loved hospital." In February Conservative leader David Cameron added his support for the 'Save The Royal Surrey' campaign when he visited patients and staff at the hospital with Mr Hunt and Ms Milton.
