***SOS*** Have you had your say?

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 1st Oct 2007

Consultation? Hardly

Local Political Involvement in consultation regarding the Hatfield Super-hospital.

Weak or un-coordinated public involvement (4) - There has been a general failure to consult effectively with the general public and key stakeholders e.g. Welwyn Hatfield borough council health working group throughout the consultation period. Not all the necessary information was available for the start of the consultation process, requests for further information by the CEO of Welwyn Hatfield borough council have been withheld by senior Trust management and the consultation has been poorly publicised (at least on the part of the Trust) with no information about the consultation sent out to households.

Given this lack of serious engagement with the people of Welwyn Hatfield and the people who represent them during the consultation, it is unlikely that the current health service managements will be able to create significant stakeholder buy-in to the adopted changes.