Patient protest over care cover

Health campaigners in Leicester have demanded major changes to the way in which patients get out-of-hours care.

Demonstrators picketed the annual general meeting of the Leicester Primary Care Trust on Humberstone Gate.

They were concerned that despite new investment, community and hospital services were more difficult to access.

No-one from the PCT commented on the patients' protest but managers have previously said they were committed to patient care.

We fear services will drift to Nottingham and Derby David Gorrod, Leicester hospitals patient group

The situation came to head with the collapse of a project to redevelop the Leicester hospitals and the departure of the hospital trust chief executive, Peter Reading.

Chairman of the Leicester Patients group, Zuffer Haq, believed a subsequent review of services was in the wrong hands.

"We have a failing PCT reviewing a three star excellent hospital," he said.

"We want an independent panel to come in and do this review, it shouldn't be in the hands of the PCT.

"They are a two star rated Trust, they are failing to deliver care to their patients, how can they review hospital services?"

Co-chairman of the hospital patients group, David Gorrod, was worried Leicester was being sidelined.

"We fear services will drift to Nottingham and Derby where the hospitals are more likely to retain important status.

"As the local hospitals in Leicester are devalued we feel we will have no alternative but to be shipped out to neighbouring towns and cities to get good treatment."