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Conservative leader David
Cameron has pledged to save hospitals across Sussex during
a flying visit to the county yesterday.
Speaking during a 45- minute trip to St Patrick's
homeless shelter in Hove, Mr Cameron said if the Tories
took power he would ensure more money was pumped into
hospitals currently under threat of closure or downgrading.
During the visit he also pledged to help charitable
organisations such as St Patrick's.
He took a tour of the homeless shelter in Cambridge
Road and met people staying there.
He also viewed its new "MiPod" bed, which
managers say will increase its ability to help those
on the streets. |
Speaking about hospitals such as Worthing
and St Richard's in Chichester, Mr Cameron said: "We
will take the bureaucracy out of running hospitals in Sussex
and take politicians out of the equation.
"This Government has let the NHS run
into the ground and that is a situation that is completely
unacceptable.
"We don't know the situation we will
inherit from this Government but certainly we will be working
to minimise the damage it is doing to hospitals in Sussex."
The Tory leader was in Hove to announce his
support for charities and other notfor- profit organisations.
During a day when it emerged Tony Blair has
been questioned by police for a second time in the cash-forhonours
inquiry, Mr Cameron refused to say whether he believed the
Prime Minister should resign but said the Government had become
a "shambles".
The party chose to visit the St Patrick's
shelter because it came close to shutting two years ago when
Brighton and Hove City Council changed its funding arrangements.
The Tories also wanted to highlight the "big
role" the voluntary sector would play in any future Conservative
government, as well as Mr Cameron's preference for "social
responsibility" over state intervention.
St Patrick's, run by Father Alan Sharpe, offers
more than 25,000 bed spaces per year for homeless people, with
a 22-bed night shelter, 29-bed hostel and "move-on" accommodation
for 19 people.
Mr Cameron said he could not wave "a
magic wand" and ensure places such as St Patrick's had
a secure financial future but said he wanted to see them trusted
more and given more "autonomy".
Mr Cameron also met with city councillors
and parliamentary candidates who will stand during the next
General Election.
They included Mike Weatherley, who has been
chosen to contest the Hove and Portslade seat.
City councillor and leader of the Conservative
group in Brighton and Hove Brian Oxley said: "This was
an extremely timely visit which shows the party's support for
fantastic places such as St Patrick's Shelter."
Father Sharpe has bought six of the £3,000
MiPod beds, which will ensure homeless people can stay at the
shelter around the clock.
He said: "It is a fantastic development
for us and the homeless people of Brighton and Hove."
The beds are self-contained in a wooden box-type
compartment and sleep one.
News article kindly provided by The
Argus, providing news, sports, jobs and local
information for Brighton, Hove & Sussex.
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