Lib Dems urge the public to keep up the pressure on the Save the Royal Surrey Campaign

12.56.36pm GMT Wed 14th Feb 2007

Lib Dems support the Save The Royal Surrey campaign

Sue Doughty has congratulated local people who have been adding their names to the petition on the Downing Street web site to Save the Royal Surrey (http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Save-RSCH/)

Sue said, "This is a local petition but already it is in the top ten for signatories. We now need even more to send a real message to the government."

Stressing that we must not ease up the pressure on the government she also wants more people to write to the minister responsible, Patricia Hewitt. Sue added, "When her office keep getting these letters, they write back and blame someone else, and of course we need to write to the Primary Care Trust too. But when a minister's post bag is heaving with letters about one hospital they have to take notice. She must take responsibility for the actions of her department."

The decision is by no means a done deal. Already clinicians are planning how to ensure that services provided by the Royal Surrey are both cost effective and clinically sound. They are rising to the financial challenge to ensure that the hospital is doing its part in managing the cash and this is impressive to decision makers.

Sue said, "It's going to be a long fight, possibly going on to the end of the year. We don't expect to see the final proposals from the Primary Care Trust until May, but the main task now is to ensure that the proposals include keeping the A & E department and St Lukes Cancer Centre in Guildford and this is where the public can really help by keeping up the pressure."

Please help the campaign by:

1. Writing to: Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State for Health, Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, SW1A 2NL.

2. Writing to: Chris Butler, Chief Executive, Surrey Primary Care Trust, Bournewood House, Guildford Road, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 0QA.

3. Petitioning the Prime Minister online at: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Save-RSCH/