Spat over future of stroke service (From Worcester News)

Spat over future of stroke service

4:30pm Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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A PRE-election spat has erupted between Worcester’s MP and a rival parliamentary candidate over the future of stroke services in the county.

Mike Foster, Labour, has reacted angrily to leaflets distributed by the Conservatives which blame Government cuts for threatening a service for stroke patients, but rival Robin Walker has defended his stance.

The leaflet, produced by the city’s Cathedral ward councillors, ambiguously refers to the threat to “Evesham stroke rehabilitation facility” which Mr Foster interpreted as meaning services based at Evesham Community Hospital.

Mr Foster denied that service was under threat and produced a letter from Paul Bates, chief executive of NHS Worcestershire, to support his argument.

In a statement Mr Foster said: “I am absolutely furious that young Mr Walker can tell such lies about local health services. It is outrageous behaviour to scare vulnerable people in this way. He should immediately withdraw this leaflet and issue a correction.”

In his letter to Mr Foster, Mr Bates said: “Firstly, I would like to clarify that the Government have not threatened to remove funding for stroke rehabilitation services at Evesham or any other stroke service.

“In fact, as a result of the National Stroke Strategy published at the end of 2007, investment in stroke services generally has increased significantly over the past few years.”

However, Mr Walker stood by his statement.

He said he was not referring to NHS services but the Acquired Brain Injury Centre (ABIC) in Davies Road, Evesham, which is under threat of closure because of cuts to South Worcestershire College’s adult learner budget. The centre provides help for people with brain injuries but not exclusively for people who have suffered strokes.

Mr Walker said: “I would stand by the words and that there is a threat to this stroke centre.

“It is absolutely wrong of Mike to accuse me of lying. It is clear that a change in funding, which hasn’t been properly thought through, is threatening that particular service.

“I find the accusation that we are scaremongering pretty offensive. I don’t think I have anything to apologise for. We put out an accurate leaflet. He should apologise for making totally unfounded accusations.”

Mr Walker was backed by Peter Luff, MP for Mid-Worcestershire, who was at the ABIC yesterday to discuss the future of the service.