Ruffley calls on Blair to visit Suffolk

SUFFOLK MP David Ruffley has today added his backing to the Evening Star's bid to secure an interview with Tony Blair about the massive cuts to Suffolk's health service.

Mr Ruffley has written to the Prime Minister enclosing a copy of the Star, urging him to meet with us to hear for himself exactly what is happening to Suffolk's NHS.

He said: “The Evening Star is right to call Tony Blair to account on the state of our health service and I give them my full support.

“The Prime Minister told the Labour Party conference yesterday that more money than ever was reaching the NHS.

“Why then is our health service facing such drastic cutbacks? The money is not reaching the front line.

“The Government has failed the NHS in Suffolk and failed the people of Suffolk.

“We deserve answers from the Prime Minister and I am urging him to respond.”

Mr Ruffley's letter says: “The Star's article calls on you to set aside time for an interview to answer questions about the future of the NHS in Suffolk.

“I enclose a copy for you reference and strongly urge you to grant their request.”

The Star sent 20 questions to health minister Patricia Hewitt earlier this year but received a series of responses penned by Department of Health press officers, which left more questions than they answered.

When The Star sent a letter to Mr Blair in August we received a response that simply talked about the progress in the NHS nationally.

Yesterday we wrote again, requesting an interview with Mr Blair himself, demanding a full and frank interview.

As trusts in east Suffolk battle to clear £47.9m of debt they are now also facing fast-moving reforms designed to create one PCT for the whole of Suffolk by April 2006.

n. See page 20 for Patricia Hewitt's views on the state of Suffolk's healthcare.

What would your message to Mr Blair be? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk