Following a key meeting over the future of Dementia ward 10 at Solihull Hospital, Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt has praised local campaigners. Mr Hunt met with Caroline Spelman MP and Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Solihull, Julian Knight in his offices in Parliament, to be briefed about the threat to the much loved Dementia ward 10.
Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP said: “It was helpful to hear about the local campaign and the need for continuity and high standards in dementia care in Solihull. Led by the Prime Minister, this government is seeking a transformation in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and social understanding of dementia up and down the country.”
Julian Knight said: "The Minister was very interested in what we had to say as we made a powerful case to him for ward 10. I stressed just how much this ward and the fantastic care it offers means to the people of Solihull. We have had nearly 600 signatures on our petition to keep the ward and the Facebook page has gone into meltdown."
Julian added; "Ward 10 should stay unless we can clearly see a better replacement. Since launching this campaign, I have been completely overwhelmed by public support and made all your views clear to the Health Minister. We put the case to keep ward 10 powerfully and I know the Minister was impressed when we explained the excellence of the care that is given on ward 10."
Caroline Spelman, MP for Meriden who first alerted the public to the threat to ward 10 and has been campaigning hard on the issue said: "I appealed to the Secretary of State to intervene on the closure of the dementia ward at Solihull Hospital, because it is still unclear which of the key players is responsible. If extra winter pressures money can be provided earlier than usual it should be used to keep ward 10 open. We want the closure postponed until we know that a satisfactory dementia care service is in place. "