30 January 2007
Gloucestershire’s six Conservative MPs and candidates today met in Westminster to launch a joint Campaign to fight government cuts to the county’s mental health facilities. Facilities under threat include the inpatient beds at Weaver’s Croft in Stroud, Collier’s Court in Cinderford and Holly House in Gloucester. The team discussed various measures to resist the government’s cuts.
Laurence Robertson, Tewkesbury’s MP said:
“Cutting mental health services is an easy option, with the effects perhaps not being felt for some time, but it is the wrong option. A very high percentage of the population suffer from mental health problems at some time of their lives and it is important that there are facilities available in which to treat them. This is why the Conservative Party is fighting against these cuts."
Cotswolds MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said:
“I am delighted that we Gloucestershire Conservatives are mounting a joint campaign to fight these brutal cuts, which would uproot people from their local communities, from their friends and families. There are relatively few economies to be made through these measures, and I would strongly appeal to those making the decisions to think of the sufferers and their families before they take these decisions.”
The closure of Weaver’s Croft in Stroud will have affects throughout the south western corner of Gloucestershire, Neil Carmichael, the candidate for Stroud said:
“It is a tragedy that the inpatient beds at Weaver’s Croft have been closed, but I remain determined to fight this government to preserve the services in Stroud. I value the support from my Conservative colleagues, to ensure that this essential facility remains open for all in our community.”
Leading the protest against cuts to Collier’s Court in Cinderford, is the Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper, who said:
“I am not satisfied that the mental health Trust has worked out satisfactory solutions for helping patients and especially carers to travel to the proposed new single site in Cheltenham if the Elderly Inpatient beds at Colliers Court are removed. I very much hope that the Secretary of State will block these proposals and ask the Trust to think again.”
Richard Graham, the candidate for Gloucester said:
“Today was a great opportunity to discuss, with the Gloucestershire candidates how we will campaign to save our threatened service. Our position is clear, and it is a great pity that this Labour government seem so determined to cut out health provision in Gloucestershire!”
Cheltenham candidate, Mark Coote added:
“I am deeply concerned that if all the mental health services in Gloucestershire become concentrated in Charlton Lane, that the residents of Cheltenham will not receive the level of service to which they are entitled. Just because our services are not directly threatened with closure, does not mean we shouldn’t be concerned.”
Members of Parliament, and candidates agreed that this campaign was the first of many, that many countywide issues would be fought in concert, to secure the best deal for Gloucestershire.
Photo: Left to right: Laurence Robertson MP, Mark Coote, Conservative Candidate for Cheltenham, Neil Carmichael, Conservative Candidate for Stroud, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Mark Harper MP and Richard Graham, Conservative Candidate for Gloucester.
Laurence Robertson, Tewkesbury’s MP said:
“Cutting mental health services is an easy option, with the effects perhaps not being felt for some time, but it is the wrong option. A very high percentage of the population suffer from mental health problems at some time of their lives and it is important that there are facilities available in which to treat them. This is why the Conservative Party is fighting against these cuts."
Cotswolds MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said:
“I am delighted that we Gloucestershire Conservatives are mounting a joint campaign to fight these brutal cuts, which would uproot people from their local communities, from their friends and families. There are relatively few economies to be made through these measures, and I would strongly appeal to those making the decisions to think of the sufferers and their families before they take these decisions.”
The closure of Weaver’s Croft in Stroud will have affects throughout the south western corner of Gloucestershire, Neil Carmichael, the candidate for Stroud said:
“It is a tragedy that the inpatient beds at Weaver’s Croft have been closed, but I remain determined to fight this government to preserve the services in Stroud. I value the support from my Conservative colleagues, to ensure that this essential facility remains open for all in our community.”
Leading the protest against cuts to Collier’s Court in Cinderford, is the Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper, who said:
“I am not satisfied that the mental health Trust has worked out satisfactory solutions for helping patients and especially carers to travel to the proposed new single site in Cheltenham if the Elderly Inpatient beds at Colliers Court are removed. I very much hope that the Secretary of State will block these proposals and ask the Trust to think again.”
Richard Graham, the candidate for Gloucester said:
“Today was a great opportunity to discuss, with the Gloucestershire candidates how we will campaign to save our threatened service. Our position is clear, and it is a great pity that this Labour government seem so determined to cut out health provision in Gloucestershire!”
Cheltenham candidate, Mark Coote added:
“I am deeply concerned that if all the mental health services in Gloucestershire become concentrated in Charlton Lane, that the residents of Cheltenham will not receive the level of service to which they are entitled. Just because our services are not directly threatened with closure, does not mean we shouldn’t be concerned.”
Members of Parliament, and candidates agreed that this campaign was the first of many, that many countywide issues would be fought in concert, to secure the best deal for Gloucestershire.
Photo: Left to right: Laurence Robertson MP, Mark Coote, Conservative Candidate for Cheltenham, Neil Carmichael, Conservative Candidate for Stroud, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Mark Harper MP and Richard Graham, Conservative Candidate for Gloucester.
