Andrew Robathan MP and Catherine Griffiths, the chief executive of Leicestershire County and Rutland Primary Care Trust (LCRPCT), spoke at length about the Feilding Palmer Hospital at their meeting last Friday.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Robathan said that while he had been made no promises by Mrs Griffiths, he had been given a good opportunity to make his feelings known.

Mr Robathan said: “I think I put forward my point pretty forcefully which is that I would not like to see any reduction in services at the Feilding Palmer Hospital for the people of Lutterworth.

“It seems to me that if there was a reduction, it would be entirely contrary with the current policy of treating people closer to home.

“I am very wary about the road the PCT is going down because I am very worried about seeing no residential care there at all.”

Mr Robathan said he had received treatment himself at the Feilding Palmer Hospital on several occasions.

He added: “What I expressed most strongly is that I am concerned that people from Lutterworth could end up travelling to Leicester or Rugby for treatment.

“The fact that the Feilding Palmer Hospital is an old building is neither here nor there – it could be refurbished.”

LCRPCT has said it will test out a pilot model of care at the Feilding Palmer Hospital in forthcoming months which includes increasing the number of patients treated in their own homes or at residential homes.

No date has been set for the length of the pilot scheme.

Sue Cavill, associate director of communications and engagement for the PCT, said: “We have been working with GPs over the past few months to put together an innovative pilot to test out new models of care that could be provided in the future.

“This includes looking at all possible options for providing care, including community hospitals, residential homes and patients’ own homes.”