BURT DEMANDS PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF GLOUCESTER'S BID FOR WORCESTER HEAD AND NECK CANCER SURGERY

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th Aug 2009

Local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt has today written to the Chair of the Three Counties Cancer Network with a request under the Freedom of Information Act for the release of the Gloucester Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust bid to take Head and Neck cancer surgery away from Worcester Royal Hospital.

Mr Burt, who has joined patient champion, Paul Crawford in his campaign for full disclosure and a public consultation on the plans, made the request after Mr Crawford was twice refused access to the Gloucester document.

"I have requested details of the bid using the Freedom of Information Act because it is essential that this decision on the future of Head and Neck cancer surgery in Worcester is not taken behind closed doors," said Richard Burt.

"Paul Crawford has been given a copy of the Worcester bid on request, but has twice been refused access to the Gloucester bid until after a decision is made. What have they got to hide?

"I'm afraid it makes me very suspicious when information is kept hidden from public scrutiny in this way.

"With the future of Head and Neck cancer surgery at Worcester Royal in the balance, it is essential that we get full disclosure and a public consultation on the proposed changes.

"Without this, how can Worcestershire residents have any confidence that the right decision will be taken?"