Fears grow over hospital closures as temperature rises

5.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 17th Jul 2006

Following a weekend of high temperatures and huge numbers of people visiting Guilfest Sue Doughty has warned that the regional health managers will be taking huge risks if they press ahead with proposals to close the A & E department at the Royal Surrey County Hospital.

In prolonged hot weather emergencies soar, particularly amongst older people. Sue said "I know that A & E was particularly busy on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and the problem was worsened by emergencies at Guilfest.

"It is extremely worrying to think that local people would have longer journeys to get emergency treatment - in fact it could be a matter of life and death.

She added "I was speaking to a number of people this weekend who have very good reason to be grateful to the A & E department and for the rapid response by the ambulance service. However the service will be overstretched if ambulances are forced to take longer journeys. I fear that we will return to the times we thought were over with ambulances queuing to deliver patients, corridors filled with trolleys and increased delays in people getting their treatment."

The problem will particularly affect residents in the South West of Surrey. Already residents of Cranleigh and the surrounding villages are outraged at failed consultation which has led to the closure of Cranleigh hospitals and difficult traffic conditions can already add to delays in receiving emergency treatment.