Craig Tracey MP, for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, and Marcus Jones MP, for Nuneaton, met with Health Minister Philip Dunne to discuss concerns over the future of A&E and Maternity services at the George Eliot Hospital. The meeting follows the release of the first Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) document amid rumours over changes at the Eliot. The document did not fully clarify the situation at the local hospital. The MPs explained the importance of the local services on site at the Eliot for residents to the Minister and sought clarity on the situation. Both Craig and Marcus have vowed to fight any plan which may lead to major services at the Eliot moving to Coventry and are awaiting full STP proposals to be outlined. Mr Tracey explained: “The Warwickshire STP has not been endorsed by NHS England or the Department of Health. Clearly those who leaked the rumours may well have had an ulterior motive, but it’s had a negative effect on patient and staff morale. “The meeting with the Minister has been useful we have been quite clear about what local people want and their concerns.” Marcus Jones said: "This is currently a local process, but it was important to meet with the Minister to put a marker down in regard to our concerns. I was more reassured after meeting the Minister. Safe and accessible services are crucial to local people and I firmly believe that we need a strong A&E and Maternity service at the Eliot. No decisions have been made or consulted on yet and until there is more detail all politicians should be supporting our hospital not undermining it” In a worrying development the impact of the leaked rumours were revealed at the recent George Eliot Hospital Public Board Meeting. This has seen reduced staff morale and the Hospital is already starting to see an impact upon recruitment. Meanwhile some pregnant women have stopped booking in to have their babies. The Board stated that they are worried that the inaccurate reports could become a self-fulfilling prophecy if patients stop using the George Eliot Hospital because of them.