KEETCH SUPPORTS HEREFORD HOSPITAL FOLLOWING FOSTER REPORT

12.06.18pm GMT Tue 1st Dec 2009

Hereford's MP, Paul Keetch, is standing by Hereford's County Hospital in light of the recent Dr Foster report into patient safety which placed the hospital in the lowest banding for safety of service.

Commenting the MP said, "I have discussed the report with the Hospital's Chief Executive, Martin Woodford and will meet with him later this week to do so further, especially in light of today's BBC report by Prof Mike Richards who claims that lung cancer sufferers in other parts of the country are more likely to live a year than those in Herefordshire."

"I have every faith in the staff at Hereford's County Hospital but we must accept that a small hospital such as this cannot be reasonably expected to provide all patient care services - it is better to have a smaller number of services performing to exceptionally high standards than to attempt to provide many more than can be coped with resulting in the service falling down."

"I am sure that Hereford Hospital can use this report to their advantage and improve on certain aspects that the report highlights. There are some positives, such as a lower than average mortality rate, which demonstrates that Hereford Hospital is not unsafe. I have no doubt that when the next report is issued, Hereford Hospital will have improved."

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