Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Health – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 27 November 2012.
The hon. Gentleman should talk to the shadow Minister on the Opposition Front Bench, Liz Kendall, who said yesterday that she would not automatically oppose all reconfigurations. The coalition Government have introduced four tests, which were not used by the previous Government. Those tests state that we will not impose closures of A and E and maternity units unless there is local clinical support, and evidence that it will benefit local people and improve patient choice. The tests exist to provide precisely the safeguards about which the hon. Gentleman is concerned.