Petition calls for restoration of vital health services to Lutterworth hospital
A petition has been launched calling for the restoration of vital health services to a hospital in Lutterworth.
The paper petition was launched on Monday May 25 by Harborough district councillor Martin Sarfas, an independent councillor who represents the Lutterworth East ward.
Cllr Sarfas said he launched the petition due to what he calls ‘broken commitments’ by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) following a consultation in 2024.
Cllr Sarfas claimed the CCG had formally agreed to a major refurbishment of the site and pledged that 22 services would return to the Feilding Palmer Hospital, which is located on Gilmorton Road.
The councillor says he is campaigning for the following 22 services to be delivered at the Feilding Palmer Hospital - AAA screening, ADHD services, cardiology, mental health support, MSK physiotherapy, ophthalmology, out-of-hours care, paediatrics and children’s services, perinatal care, podiatry, palliative nursing, pulmonary and cardio-respiratory services, respiratory medicine, speech and language therapy, stoma care, trauma and orthopaedics, urology, a walking aid clinic, a memory clinic, midwifery, health scans and imaging and upper abdominal services.
Cllr Sarfas praised volunteers Mary Guppy and Juliana Foster for their efforts in getting the campaign on to the streets and speaking directly to the community.
Cllr Sarfas said: “We were promised back in 2024 that Feilding Palmer would be refurbished and that these 22 key services would be here for us.
“It never happened - they just said they didn’t have the money.
“Now they are going through yet another consultation, and I am determined that this time we get exactly what we were promised.
“People are sick of being let down, sick of travelling miles for basic care, and sick of seeing our local hospital underused while we are left without the support we need.
“We will keep pushing, keep gathering names, and keep making sure our voices are heard until it happens.”
The Harborough Mail contacted the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland NHS Integrated Care Board, who said they were unable to comment on the issue at this time.