ACCIDENT and Emergency services must be restored to Rugby’s hospital to serve the growing population, says the town’s MP.
Mark Pawsey reiterated the call in response to Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) consultation on urgent and emergency care.
Writing to CCG Chair Dr Sarah Raistrick, Mr Pawsey said A&E must return to the Hospital of St Cross, having been downgraded to an Urgent Care Centre in the late 1990s – when it was argued by the NHS that Rugby was not large enough to provide sufficient opportunities for clinicians to maintain their services.
He said: “Since becoming Rugby’s MP, the town has grown considerably. I have always said that as the town grows, it must be accompanied by investment in infrastructure and public services, and that must include St Cross.
“The review needs to consider present users of the services, and the future implications of growth in Rugby and in Coventry. This will have an impact on access to services at University Hospital Coventry, which is already approaching capacity.
“It seems clear there is a case for the restoration of A&E at St Cross.”
In his letter, Mr Pawsey said there were a number of similar sized towns with A&E services, adding that Rugby was set to grow further following the adoption of a Local Plan to deliver 12,500 new homes by 2031.
He added: “We need as many people as possible to respond to this consultation to ensure that the CCG understands the strength of feeling here and the importance to Rugby residents for good local health services.”
Figures released by the National House Building Federation last year showed homes were being built in Rugby at nearly three times the national average – raising fresh concerns infrastructure was not keeping up with population growth.
The statistics showed 2,052 new homes were built in Rugby between 2017 and 2019, compared to an average of 737 elsewhere in the UK.
Mr Pawsey had welcomed the figures as evidence Rugby was ‘growing and open for business’ – but reiterated calls for infrastructure to keep pace with the population ‘to ensure Rugby’s growth remains sustainable’
He added: “This means a greater argument for investment in the Hospital of St Cross – an argument I will continue to make as Rugby grows.”
At the time, Rugby Labour Group leader Coun Maggie O’Rourke said: “The lack of foresight by this government to provide the necessary funding to support the extra demands on our local public services and infrastructure is a disgrace.
“If the government is not prepared to put enough money into our services and infrastructure, they will continue to be stretched.”
Visit https://tinyurl.com/x4ktmy6w to respond to the consultation, which is due to close today (Tuesday June 1st).
