At a brainstorming meeting called by Mike Penning MP on Thursday night over 30 people attended. The objective of the meeting was to generate ideas for action to stop the planned cuts to hospital servcies in Hemel and the unfair burden it will place on the hospitals in Watford and Luton. This gathering differed from the usual in that it was attended by activists from all political parties. Conservative councillors were joined by the MP, Lib Dem PPC, Richard Grayson, Labour councillors, Zena Bullmore and Edith Glatter and other DHAG members and activists.

Four officers of Hemel Hempstead Conservative Association attended and pledged the help and support of their extensive local party machinery and facilities. Richard Grayson, on behalf of the local Lib Democrats did the same. As Mike Penning said; “This is not a political matter, it is about the people of Hertfordshire joining together to stop the bureaucrats destroying our local health services just to save money to meet arbitrary government targets”.

Many ideas for action were generated the first of which will be a Protest Demonstration at County Hall, Hertford next Wednesday 20th July 2005 in order to show to the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee, who have a meeting on that day, the strength of public feeling about the financial mismanagement of local health and the unacceptability of the proposed cuts in service.

Any one who can join the protest are urged to do so and can meet at 8:15am in the Park & Ride Car Park in Gadebridge Park or at County Hall Hertford at 9:15am.