Whilst the councillors are busy arguing about who is going to get the biggest office in the new merged authority Poole hospital’s provision is being cut

Poole council leader, Janet Walton has been accused by the Labour Party of putting her party’s interests over those of local residents on the proposed transfer of Poole A&E. Labour’s charge comes ahead of the full council meeting on Tuesday night (November 13) at which councillors will vote on whether to refer the Clinical Commissioning Group’s decision to transfer Poole A&E and maternity services to Bournemouth hospital, to the Secretary of State for a final decision.

Sarah Ward, chair of Poole Labour said: “We have written to Cllr Walton and invited her to be part of a cross-party delegation that is seeking a meeting with Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social, to raise our concerns over the future of A&E and maternity services locally. However, after more than two weeks she has failed to give us an answer. She must realise that the council has an obligation, not to blindly follow what has been proposed, but to speak up on behalf of local residents. Whilst the councillors are busy arguing about who is going to get the biggest office in the new merged authority, they are failing to provide real political leadership on the issues that matter.”