Vince Cable

Vincent Cable, MP, has contacted the health secretary, Alan Johnson, and the chief executive of the London Strategic Health Authority and asked them to intervene in the case of the proposed St John's Hospital closure.

Last week the council's Health Overview and Scrutiny committee looked at the closure which is being forced through by the South West London Mental Health Trust after the local primary care trust decided that it wanted to switch the purchasing of care for the elderly mentally ill to a cheaper, non NHS, supplier.

Vincent Cable said that "the timing is terrible in the light of a recent report of the Alzheimer's Society. This report points to the need for specialist care for those with dementia, especially those with special behavioural problems as is the case at St John's and is scathing about the poor quality care available in a lot of private homes".

"We have an unfortunate coincidence of a primary care trust trying to save a bit of money and the mental health trust which is trying to redevelop the site to realise its property potential. Neither appears to be very interested in the unfortunate patients who are unable to speak up for themselves. Campaigner Paul Lamplugh has put the issue on the map and he, and fellow carers, deserve some support".

"I am particularly concerned that the mental health trust appears to have failed in its statutory duty to consult anyone other than the council and I shall be taking them to task for this lapse".