Yesterday, local MP Jeremy Hunt addressed a meeting of the Surrey Health Scrutiny Committee over Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust’s proposal to temporary close 10 beds at Farnham and 14 Beds at Cranliegh Hospitals. The Surrey Health Scrutiny Committee met to investigate whether the service changes proposed by the PCT represent a ‘substantial variation or service development’ and to decide if the proposed changes are in the interests of the health service in the area. After hearing evidence from various interest groups including the Public Patient Involvement Forum and Royal Surrey County Hospital, they decided that the proposals would be a ‘substantial variation’ in service – these proposals will now go to consultation. Jeremy Hunt commented after the meeting:“This is a significant victory for all interested groups. These temporary closures are purely for financial reasons and not in the interest of patient care; I also cannot see that the closures will only be temporary, as the PCT have said that they need recurrent financial balance. We all understand and sympathise with the pressures that the PCT are under from the government, however I feel that it extremely wrong for them to be held to ransom when it is patient that care that is at risk. I will be putting pressure on Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health, as she must be held to account for the cuts she is responsible for making through poorly thought out reform, too many targets and far too much central bureaucracy.”