The NHS is incredibly important to everyone in Cornwall and recently there have been rumours regarding the future of St Michael’s Hospital. Earlier in the summer, I met with the then Chief Executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, to discuss these rumours and ask if there was anything I could do to help. She made clear there are no plans whatsoever to close the hospital and that they would actually like to do more work there. I strongly disagree with those people who keep saying St Michael's will have to be closed down. We should not undermine confidence in our local NHS. Instead we should support and strengthen it.
Funding for the Kernow Clinical Commission Group had
increased this year by £14.3 million with another £11.6 million to come next
year. Furthermore, I think it is encouraging that extra funds have been granted
for an expansion at the minor injuries unit at the Camborne and Redruth
Community Hospital and the creation of doctor led urgent care centres at the
same hospital. Like any big organisation, the NHS will always have challenges
to deal with and I think we should help them deal with those challenges, not
talk them down.
