Last month, I invited the Health Secretary to meet with with me, alongside MPs representing impacted areas and community leaders, to discuss the closure of the Urgent Care Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital. I have receive a reply this morning - from Wes Streeting's correspondence manager - declining the offer.
This is extremely disappointing, but not at all surprising. It is clear that the Health Secretary is not taking this issue seriously and is failing the community by disregarding its very valid concerns.
A copy of the response can be found below. I will continue the campaign to save the Urgent Care Service at Mount Vernon and ensure that residents’ voices are heard.
Received via email, Weds 13 August.
Dear Mr Simmonds,
Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has asked me to thank you for your recent correspondence requesting a meeting, along with other affected MPs and local community and campaign leaders, to discuss the closure of the Urgent Care Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital.
The Secretary of State gets many meeting requests that he is unable to take up due to a variety of pressures on his time because of his role. Regrettably, the Secretary of State is unable to meet on this occasion. He notes that Minister Smyth replied to your letter of 17th June on the 21st July about this issue.
He has asked I pass on his best wishes and express his gratitude for the invitation.
Yours sincerely,
Correspondence Manager for the Secretary of State
