Marcus Jones and Dan Byles, the Members of Parliament who represent Nuneaton & Bedworth, have today hit back at the accusation by a Coventry Labour councillor that there were "significant concerns regarding the safety of paediatric and maternity services delivered from George Eliot Hospital", saying that this was not a concern shared by the hospital, the Primary Care Trust, or the Royal College of Paediatricians.
Both MPs were delighted to hear this week that their ongoing campaign to retain services at the George Eliot has been successful. They are now dismayed at what they describe as 'disparaging and inaccurate' comments from the Labour councillor.
Councillor David Welsh's comments follow an independent clinical review conducted by the Royal College of Paediatricians of a new paediatric and maternity services plan proposed by the George Eliot. That review has given the plans, which will see services remain at the George Eliot, a green light for safety and sustainability. This view has also been accepted by the Primary Care Trust.
The pair of MPs have issued a firm "hands off" warning to Coventry Councillor, David Welsh.
Marcus Jones the MP for Nuneaton, whose two children were born at the Eliot, said:
"I am very surprised that a Labour councillor from Coventry would seek to make such remarks about my local hospital. He clearly has no understanding of the issues or any apparent concern whatsoever for my constituents in Nuneaton, who have welcomed the independent report and the decision to retain paediatric and maternity services in my constituency.
"The fact that some patients from Coventry are choosing to use the services at the George Eliot rather than UHCW shows that the people Councillor Welsh is supposed to represent don't share his lack of confidence in the Eliot."
His colleague Dan Byles, whose Bedworth and North Warwickshire constituents also use the George Eliot, added:
"Frankly I am amazed that Councillor Welsh has apparently decided to enter this debate at such a late stage without having shown any public interest previously. He hasn't even had the courtesy to pick up the phone to discuss this with the senior managers at the Eliot, and I would be interested to know if he has bothered to discuss this with any Warwickshire councillors or with the Primary Care Trust.
"He clearly does not understand that the plan he has criticised creates a joined up paediatric network across Coventry and Warwickshire, and that consultants from the George Eliot will actually be supporting services at the University Hospital in Coventry. This plan will benefit everybody across Warwickshire and Coventry, which Councillor Welsh should surely welcome."