         |
Coventry Evening Telegraph
Coventry MP Jim Cunningham is demanding answers from Walsgrave Hospital over proposed job cuts and the effect on services.
The Coventry South MP (below) has written to chief executive David Roberts and is threatening to raise the issues with Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.
The move follows Evening Telegraph reports that ward B3 was closing and the oncology day unit was to shut before the end of the month.
Union bosses have received notice of redundancies among hospital staff to be made within 30 days.
The Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, has to claw back more than £7mil-lion on its budget in the present financial year, but it denies that any patients will suffer.
Mr Cunningham, who has received scores of calls from worried constituents, said: "I wrote to Mr Roberts as soon as I became aware of the problems.
"I want to know what has caused these problems, because we know there has been a large increase in funding for hospitals.
"Why has all this come about and will it happen again next year?"
Mr Roberts said: "All NHS trusts have a duty and responsibility to ensure they manage their finances efficiently and effectively.
"Our future plans mean that financial stability and control is essential. It is through this control that we ensure our patients get the very best of care.
"We will be meeting with our staff and staff side representatives to discuss our plans."
Mr Roberts said once they have determined those plans, he would be in a position to share them with everyone concerned.
