Following the decision to move consultant led care and paediatrics to North Tees Hospital, Iain Wright demanded answers to the many questions raised by the Independent Review Panel’s recommendations. In his campaign for better health care for the people of Hartlepool, he raised the issue in debates in the House of Commons, and met with the Minister in order to get answers about the future of health care provision for the town.

At the meeting a few months ago, he invited the Minister of Health, Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, to visit Hartlepool to talk to staff at the hospital and to discuss the future of health care here. He also asked for a road map to be drawn up, so plans to improve health care services could be put into place. This resulted in last month the “Pathways to Health Care”, starting the process to plan for new hospital, primary and community services and facilities for local people. Last month he also held a meeting with relevant stakeholders to discuss transport provision to hospitals and health care facilities in the area.