Vince Cable

The campaign to have Dr Roberts, the dismissed Kingston Hospital consultant cardiologist, reinstated has gathered momentum with support from local MPs and a growing petition from former patients.

Vincent Cable MP is to meet the Hospital's Chief Executive next Monday (9th November) on behalf of Teddington and Twickenham residents who have expressed their serious concern.

Vincent Cable said: "It is rare to encounter such strong feelings of respect and affection and there is genuine anger at the way Dr Roberts has been treated by NHS managers. He has written to me pointing out that comments in a letter I received from the Chairman of the Trust were simply inaccurate: he did not, as claimed, agree an out-of-court settlement; an industrial tribunal said he should be reinstated but the Hospital refused. The extreme frustration he feels, and is felt by those campaigning for him, is that the hospital authorities appear to be a law unto themselves, ignoring rulings of industrial tribunals let alone public opinion. I shall convey to the Hospital's management that they run the risk of forfeiting the confidence of large numbers of local residents who use the Hospital's services.