Accident and Emergency Departments Debate

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Department: Department of Health and Social Care

Accident and Emergency Departments

Steve Baker Excerpts
Tuesday 10th September 2013

(10 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jeremy Hunt Portrait Mr Hunt
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I thank the right hon. Gentleman for the interest and support that he shows for his local hospital. Of course, Mid Staffs has an extremely troubled history and it would be a derogation of my duties if I did not try to sort out the problems there once and for all, but we will not make any changes that have knock-on effects on neighbouring trusts without proper assessment and making sure that provisions are in place so that they can cope with any additional pressures. The final decision about what is going to be done has not been made, but I reassure the right hon. Gentleman on that point.

Steve Baker Portrait Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con)
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The A and E crisis in Wycombe results from the closure of the department under the previous Government. Although I would love to lay the blame squarely on Labour, is not the truth that, over the life of the NHS, clinical practice and management have changed substantially? Will my right hon. Friend consider producing a White Paper that takes a holistic view of emergency and out-of-hours care so that we can have an A and E service that is fit for the 21st century?