PUBLIC pressure has forced a five-week postponement of the decision by Guildford and Waverley PCT over the controversial shake up of health services likely to affect beds at Farnham Hospital. The Department of Health is to step in to guide the decision, SW Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt revealed on Wednesday. He explained that the Independent Reconfiguration Panel is to assist in the local reform, which could see the closure of beds at Milford and Haslemere hospitals, and alteration to the use of some beds at Farnham. Mr Hunt said he hoped the panel will be able to see "the many flaws in the PCT's case". "To date, the PCT's handling of the whole review has made a mockery of the concept of consultation. No one has the remotest confidence that local people will actually be listened to. "Instead they are being given a Hobson's Choice and told to choose which hospital is for the chop. It has been a complete white wash." The public consultation ended last week and the outcome was due to be published and discussed at a board meeting in public on March 23. That meeting will now hear final comments, but an extraordinary meeting of the board in public to review the public consultation will be held on April 27 at Guildford Baptist Church at 2-30 pm. Jeremy Hunt urged that the decision should be put off indefinitely, "until the PCT's own restructuring is complete and we have a management who will be here for the long term".
