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Date set for health services public meeting
Campaigners have set a date for a public meeting to highlight health care issues in Hemel Hempstead.
Dacorum Hospital Action Group (DHAG) wants to give people the opportunity to comment and learn more about the future of services.
The meeting, chaired by MP Mike Penning, will take place in the council chamber at Hemel Hempstead Civic Centre on Friday, October 17, at 7pm.
Speakers will include Mr Penning, South West Herts MP David Gauke, DHAG chairman Zena Bullmore, and Tring GP Tony Hall-Jones.
Mrs Bullmore said: "It's a public meeting to explain what's going on and to discuss the programme for the future."
Major changes have taken place at Hemel Hempstead Hospital with planned surgery moved to St Albans and A&E closing next March.
The meeting follows the launch of a campaign by family doctors against a new health centre destined for Hemel Hempstead.
The GP-led centre will be open to anyone 12 hours a day, 365 days a year, as part of a government initiative to make it easier for people to see a doctor.
GPs claim the centre will threaten existing practices and result in poorer care for patients.
The campaign is being organised by the Hemel Hempstead and District Locality Forum - which represents family doctors - and includes posters, leaflets and a petition to be delivered to Whitehall.
A tendering process to decide who will run the centre is under way and a number of multinational companies, as well as some local GPs, have submitted bids.
The health centre will be in a town centre location alongside the urgent care centre that will replace A&E.
A shortlist of potential sites for the facilities is expected to be published in the autumn.
GP Paul Heatley said: "The way it has evolved Hemel Hempstead has been the loser.
"Having an urgent care centre is good if we can't have A&E.
"We see no value in a GP-led health centre."
Herts Primary Care Trust says the centre will complement and not replace existing services while addressing the problem of access.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Friday 25 May 2012
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
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