Gordon Brown Comes to Twickenham

2.13.49pm GMT Wed 19th Nov 2003

Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, opened the new West Middlesex hospital on Monday morning, with the two local MPs whose constituencies are served by West Middlesex - Ann Keen and Vincent Cable.

The ceremony finalised the opening of the new hospital which admitted new patients for the first time in June. the hospital has been built under a PFI contract with the French company Buiyges.

Vincent Cable said that "the new hospital is a big step forward for the 70% of my constituents in the Twickenham area who use it and the many staff who work there. For decades the old West Middlesex has been something of an embarrassment: an old workhouse, impractical and with rather squalid surroundings."

"I hear that there are teething problems with the new hospital and staff shortages remain a problem. But at least there is now a decent environment and world class facilities."

Please see below what else was happening at West Middlesex Hospital on the day of the opening.

Cope of email sent to Gail Wannell Chief Executive West Middlesex Hospital I was very pleased to be able to attend the opening on Monday. However I was concerned to hear that there had been major problems in the A&E department during the day.

My understanding is that the A&E ward was closed shortly after the opening ceremony and patients were ferried by ambulances to hospitals across West London after extremely long waits in the A&E department.

One particular case, an 89 year old woman who arrived at West Mid A&E at approx 11.00 am, ended up being sent to Ealing hospital at approx 7.30pm and was still waiting to be put on a ward at Ealing hospital at 10.30, nearly twelve hours after arriving at West Middlesex.

Could you please let me know if the closure was due to the A&E department being cleared for Gordon Brown's visit or was there a more fundamental reason, i.e. the new unit is unable to cope with the volume of cases arriving on its door step.

Dr Vincent Cable, MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Constituency office address: 7, Kestrel House, 111 Heath Road, Twickenham TW1 4AH.