Sue Doughty criticises finance experts at Surrey Primary Care Trust

9.50.11am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 22nd Jan 2007

Sue Doughty outside the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford

Sue Doughty has strongly criticised the finance experts at the Surrey Primary Care Trust for a biased approach to calculating the cost of closure at the Royal Surrey.

She said "Turning the whole of patient care into a cynical bean counting exercise is quite outrageous. It totally ignores the point that patients come first and that the purpose of a hospital is health care. This approach is sickening."

Sue fears that the possible removal of radiotherapy from Surrey to London or Southampton would result in some people not getting the treatment they need. Already we know that facilities outside Surrey are full to capacity so it is difficult to say whether some people would even get their treatment.

She pointed out that there are local cases, often women, where family needs mean that if treatment was not provided in Guildford, the patient would not be able to take the time to make a long journey. "Money comes into it too" she added. "I know from watching my own family that the costs of travel and family support eat up scarce money when someone has a major illness. Already many people are totally reliant on the kindness of friends and family for transport."

Many local people have warned that ambulance costs will also rise as the limited parking at other Surrey hospitals will drive up the demand for transport.

The whole proposal totally ignores the high quality of care, not only the best in Surrey but amongst the best in the country. The proposals mean that Guildford is being penalised for being good, and is being penalised for managing its finances well.

To add your name to the online petition visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Save-RSCH/ and forward the link to as many people as possible.