Cheltenham A&E future sparks debate between candidates during hustings

The future of Cheltenham’s accident and emergency department became the focus of debate between the spa town’s MP hopefuls at a hustings on Sunday (June 23). A public question led to a back and forth over health services in the town between Conservative Alex Chalk, Labour’s Lara Chaplin and Liberal Democrat candidate Max Wilkinson.

Mr Chalk, who has been MP since 2015, said Cheltenham General Hospital’s A&E will not shut under a Conservative Government. But Ms Chaplin said it was saved thanks to campaign group Restore Emergency At Cheltenham Hospital (REACH) and Mr Wilkinson said a detailed plan to save it which was drawn up in 2017 has not happened.

Cheltenham’s health services were on the slide when Mr Chalk became MP, he said. “We lost Battledown children services i.e. paediatrics. Doctor-led paternity and also night time A&E in 2013.

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“And people said to me as sure as eggs are eggs, Alex they are going to come for your A&E and they are going to shut it. And lo it came to pass.

"In 2018 that is precisely what they tried to do. I want to thank those people. No doubt many in this room who came together said no, we will fight this not just with petitions but with legal action if necessary.

“We will always stand up for our hospital in Cheltenham.”

Ms Chaplin said she agreed that REACH did a really good job in defending Cheltenham A&E. She turned to Mr Chalk and asked if he was sure it would not close if he got another term in office.

He said health secretary for health Victoria Atkins ruled this out when asked directly. “If there is a Conservative government Cheltenham A&E will not shut,” Mr Chalk said.

“That is the pledge that the governing party has given. It’s the trust that makes these decisions.

"We have to be ready not just stand there with pompoms and goodness knows what so say we are not very happy about it but to use all the means at our disposal potentially judicial review to thwart it.

“We need an A&E in Cheltenham and I will always fight to defend it.”

Ms Chaplin said it was curious that was not what REACH is saying and they are really concerned about. “It isn’t Alex who fights for it. It’s REACh it’s a bipartisan group which many of my members are in as well.”

Liberal Democrat Max Wilkinson said he and Mr Chalk agree on the A&E issue. But while Mr Chalk was elected with a detailed plan to save it in 2017 it has not happened.

“I don’t doubt that Alex was doing his absolute best,” he said. “He’s been a minister in a Conservative government for many of those years and it hasn’t happened.

“So why? I would suggest very gently it’s because the Conservative government perhaps speaks with a forked tongue on this issue.”

Independent Daud McDonald and Green Party candidate Daniel Wilson are also standing for election in the spa town.