SIR – Once again a key player in helping develop local health services has shown his ignorance.

This time its Councillor Marcus Hart in the firing line, claiming that he can see no reason why disabled people shouldn’t be charged for parking (Worcester News, September 19).

Mr Hart, who is the county council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, should perhaps spend some time mastering his brief.

Firstly, I’m delighted that he personally doesn’t have any problem paying for parking when he visits a hospital, but then Mr Hart is a successful professional and isn’t struggling to live on disability living allowance.

I also wonder whether he would be so enthusiastic if, like so many people living with a disability, he had to make frequent trips to see a hospital specialist, with the added expense of paying for parking each time.

Mr Hart’s comments are trite and pay no regard to the evidence base. Here’s a radical proposition: why doesn’t he actually attend one of the trust’s new community engagement groups that we’ve been hearing so much about, and talk to some of the members?

Community consultation are the latest buzz-words in health service circles, so let’s see some proof that it does actually have an impact on how those services are developed.

ROBBIE PORTER
Chairman, Worcester City Community Engagement Forum