Prospective MP Steve Brine, spoke passionately in support of Winchester Hospital when he addressed the Conservative conference in Manchester.
Speaking in the main health debate he said small District General Hospitals, such as Winchester, were the bedrock of the NHS and called on the Shadow Health Secretary to protect maternity and A&E services in a future Conservative Government.
- Steve Brine TV - watch Steve address the Conservative Conference on Monday 5 October 2009.
He said; "The health debate was hugely in demand so I was pleased to be asked to speak. David Cameron has said the NHS will be our number one priority in Government and it is my priority in Winchester.
"I told the conference that we have an excellent hospital in Winchester with one of the lowest infection rates in Europe and rising patient numbers meaning people want be treated here. But I also reminded the Shadow Health team that rising costs, from nationally negotiated pay awards to the impact on the ground of the Working Time Directive, are pushing our local Trust into difficult times ahead.
"District General Hospitals provide acute services for their local populations and obstetric-led maternity as well as consultant-led A&E are the twin pillars that keep them viable and at the heart of the community. My comments were well received by conference and the Shadow team who whole-heartedly agreed with me that hospitals such as Winchester have a central role under any future Government."
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and Shadow Health Minister have both visited the RHCH in recent months.
A full transcript of Steve Brine's speech to the 2009 Conservative conference health debate will be available shortly via this page.