Healthy future

I wonder if I could offer Dr Campbell, the Labour prospective Parliamentary candidate for Newark a word of advice?

If you believe everything you read; you should never have learned to read.

Certainly, if you are on the threshold of fighting an election campaign you should double check your facts.

Contrary to media reports the cabinet of Newark and Sherwood District Council did not vote for option two regarding the future of Newark Hospital’s emergency unit at its last meeting.

The cabinet took the view that emergency treatment avail- able 24/7 was the best option for Newark.

However, it did recognise that option two was likely to prevail, and did urge that any money saved should be ring-fenced for Newark Hospital.

Consequently, Dr Campbell’s statement that we had gone along with the PCT, regardless of the public point of view, is quite wrong and misleading (A & E Decision Defies Public Opinion, News Views, March 5).

It is naive of Dr Campbell to suppose that we do not recognise that this whole exercise is about costs. Of course it is.

However, I choose to believe his professional colleagues when they tell me that it is more about efficiency and spending public money in the right way.

We all want the best service that funds allow for Newark Hospital and its services.

Let them use the public’s money wisely and seek to get full value for every pound spent.

And finally Dr Campbell, no more sinister hints that Newark Hospital faces closure. That is simply not true.

It has a bright and long future and its dedicated staff are fully deserving of our support.