JULIA WELCOMES INDEPENDENT UPPER GI REVIEW

10.30.00am GMT Wed 17th Feb 2010

Commenting on the Government's decision to order a full investigation into the controversial transfer of upper gastro-intestinal (GI) cancer surgery from Treliske to Derriford, Julia Goldsworthy MP said:

"I very much welcome the Minister's decision to listen to the views of local people, who have never been properly consulted.

"This whole saga raises serious questions about whether the government's centralised healthcare model is appropriate for rural areas. We've seen time and time again that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work - now is their chance to put this right.

"The thousands of people who signed petitions on this issue finally have the opportunity to make their views known, and the independent panel investigating the transfer decision needs to demonstrate that they are listening. The lack of any meaningful consultation is what made people so angry in the first place."