Government review of vascular services decision is 'standard procedure' says Wirral NHS (From Wirral Globe)
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Government review of vascular services decision is 'standard procedure' says Wirral NHS
4:48pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News Exclusive By Stephanie Cureton
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt orders review of vascular services shake-up
WIRRAL NHS communications chief says Government plans to review a vascular surgery shake-up is “standard procedure.”
Director of communications and engagement at NHS Wirral, Cheshire and Warrington Martin McEwan’s comments come as council leader Phil Davies welcomes a review into the changes.
Secretary of State for Health has ordered for an independent panel to look into the scheme which has been plagued by controversy.
The shake-up would see complex vascular surgery being moved from Arrowe Park to the Countess of Chester Hospital but objectors have said it would put lives at risk.
However Mr McEwan said the decision was made on behalf of patients across Wirral, Warrington and Cheshire.
He said: “We have stated before that this is normal practice and it’s a standard step in the process so this was expected.
“Our view is that we have run the proper process here and we would hope that the Secretary of State would take the decision to send it back to local determination to implement.
“This decision was for the whole of Warrington, Wirral and Cheshire and wouldn’t always fit with what Wirral or Warrington want on their own.
"We had to make it on behalf of the whole population so we would hope the Secretary would endorse the plans.”
