David Ruffley has today released details of a top level meeting he will be attending with the East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA) to discuss the threat posed to the Accident and Emergency Department at the West Suffolk by the current review of acute services.

David will be attending a top level meeting with SHA bosses in Portcullis House at the House of Commons on Wednesday 24 January 2007 to discuss the review.

David has been running a high profile campaign to save the West Suffolk

A & E:

On 14 October David's Health Action Day petition on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds and in Stowmarket received over 1,500 signatures of support in little over two hours.

On 9 November David arranged for the leader of Her Majesty's Opposition, David Cameron, to come to the West Suffolk and see at first hand the necessity of keeping the A & E open.

On 17 November David met with Carole Taylor-Brown, Chief Executive of Suffolk PCT, to discuss the £57 million debt in Suffolk's Health Trusts.

In December David launched an online petition to keep the A & E Department open at www.tellDavidRuffley.com.

David said:

'On behalf of the West Suffolk Hospital I will be attending a top level meeting regional East of England SHA bosses. I want to discuss their current review of acute services and how it could adversely affect the people of Suffolk.

'This review could pose a threat to 24 hour Accident and Emergency cover at the West Suffolk Hospital and this must not be allowed to happen.

'I will be opposing any salami slicing cuts to the A & E and the West Suffolk Hospital.

'I would encourage members of the public to sign my online petition to keep our local Accident and Emergency Department open at www.tellDavidRuffley.com.'