Co-ordinator: Marna Blundy, 4 Botallack Moor, St Just, PENZANCE, Cornwall TR19 7QH
Tel / Fax 01736 788107
westcornwallhealthwatch@yahoo.co.uk

PRESS STATEMENT 12.10.2004

West Cornwall HealthWatch is appalled to learn via a leaked document from the Strategic Health Authority that Cornwall will be losing over £20 millions of funding for its Acute Hospital Health Service. It is no wonder we are the only county with one Accident and Emergency Department.

It was acknowledged by John Hutton Minister for Health at a meeting earlier this year with Andrew George and representatives of the Joint Stakeholders Steering Group that in some areas Cornwall was already under funded so in its wisdom the Department of Health has responded to this by withholding Cornwall's correct entitlement.

Sheena Cox a member of HealthWatch said "It is internationally acknowledged that deprivation and ill health go together and Cornwall has one of the highest proportions of deprivation in the Country, yet the Governments response to this is to provide less for those most in need".

She went on to say "This news should have every man, women and child in Cornwall united to fight for an equal health service including Accident and Emergency Care in Cornwall in line with that enjoyed by other populations of similar size within England. All Parish, Town & District Councils in Cornwall must now unite to fight for the people whom they represent."

Whilst he was here, John Reid announced that 20 new Polish Dentists would be employed in Devon and Cornwall from January next year. That is approximately 1 dentist per 85000 of the population. HealthWatch acknowledges that it is better than nothing but only marginally.

Joe McKenna Vice chairman of HealthWatch said "So much for the public being the owners of the NHS. I am disappointed that a request from its members to meet with the Secretary of State for Health whilst he was in Cornwall was not even acknowledged".