MP says he is ‘determined’ to see more services provided at Hemel Hempstead hospital site

Hemel Hempstead’s MP Mike Penning has pledged to fight to see more services provided at the town’s hospital site.
Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, met with Dr Nicholas Small, Chair of Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group at their offices at Hemel One in Boundary Way.Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, met with Dr Nicholas Small, Chair of Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group at their offices at Hemel One in Boundary Way.
Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, met with Dr Nicholas Small, Chair of Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group at their offices at Hemel One in Boundary Way.

The politician made the promise following a meeting with Dr Nicholas Small - chairman of the Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group, which represents GP practices.

The group’s role is to identify the health needs of the population and then plan and buy services to fulfil those needs.

Mr Penning, who will be fighting to retain his position in May’s general election, said: “I was very pleased to visit Nicholas and his team at Hemel One. It is clear to me that they are dedicated to delivering the best possible health care to my constituents and to dispel the scaremongering that the facilities currently provided on the Hemel hospital site are to close.

“Nicholas confirmed to me the importance of having facilities as close to where my constituents live as possible.

“Once the current review is over I made it clear that I am determined to see more services provided on the Hemel hospital site. It is a nonsense to have empty buildings in Hemel while there is overcrowding in Watford.”

West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust - which runs Hemel Hempstead, Watford and St Albans hospitals - is currently working with Herts County Council to consider the local population’s health and social needs.

The Your Care, Your Future survey is asking people’s views on current services and the feedback will help to identify opportunities to meet future needs.