Heatherwood Hospital special meeting - reminder

Royal Borough residents are this week reminded that there's still time to submit their questions ahead of Monday's special meeting on the future of Heatherwood hospital - or to turn up on the night and put their questions in person.

That's the message to anyone interested in helping to retain hospital services at Heatherwood as the Royal Borough's campaign reaches another milestone with a special meeting of the council's adult services and health overview and scrutiny panel on Monday 21 November at 7pm.

Residents are being urged to attend the meeting in the Pavilion at Ascot racecourse - and either submit their questions to the panel chairman by this Saturday (19 November) or be prepared to take part in the 45-minute slot allotted to public questions on the night.

The meeting will give members of the public the chance to hear answers to questions about the hospital's future in the wake of the announcement from NHS Berkshire that it needs to make £21m of savings in East Berkshire this year.

Cllr Sayonara Luxton, chairman of the scrutiny panel and ward councillor for Sunningdale, said this week: "Heatherwood provides a vital service not only for local Ascot residents but also for people living right across the borough and we must fight to keep it at all costs.

"Monday's meeting is our opportunity to ask important questions and help make the forthcoming consultation both meaningful and open.

"Up to three quarters of an hour has been allocated for questions from members of the public, so if you prefer not to submit your questions in advance please come along on the night prepared to put your question direct to the speakers. We need to make sure our views are heard."

Attending the meeting will be representatives of NHS Berkshire and Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Questions to be submitted in advance should be sent to either Cllr Sayonara Luxton, chairman of the scrutiny panel at sayonara.luxton@hotmail.co.uk, by email to democratic.services@rbwm.gov.uk or by post to Democratic Services, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 1RF to arrive no later than this Saturday (19 November). The scrutiny panel will ensure that residents' questions are put to members of NHS Berkshire and the trust.

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