Select Committee Chair on fact finding visit to Guildford

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 23rd Nov 2006

Phil Willis MP, Chair of the Commons Science and Technology Committee has visited the University of Surrey to discuss the impact of the possible closure of the Royal Surrey County Hospital on the University. He met Professor John Turner, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university at the newly opened Postgraduate Medical School.

His visit was at the request of Sue Doughty, Parliamentary Spokesperson for Guildford, who is deeply concerned that closure of the hospital would have a major impact on the university which is a leader in Biomedical Science.

As a former education front-bench spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, Phil has a deep understanding of the challenges facing universities such as Surrey.

Phil Willis said "At a time when the country needs to expand it's medical science base, it is deeply worrying that the superb links between the University of Surrey and the Royal Surrey County Hospital are threatened due to short-term financial difficulties."

Sue Doughty said "I'm delighted that Phil is taking an interest in this. Good links between universities and hospitals are essential in the field of bio medical science and it is important that he is able to see the problems which we are facing in Surrey. Many Guildford people undertake training at the University as nurses. For those with demanding family commitments it is essential that they work in the hospital to get the vital experience which is part of their training."