Lib Dem slams 'secret' health authority meeting

Mid Sussex Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman, Serena Tierney,

has revealed that the Mid Sussex Primary Care Trust held its annual general meeting without giving local people the chance to quiz health bosses.

The Trust's AGM was held at the Martlets in Burgess Hill with minimal publicity. Acting Chief Executive, Richard Hathaway told the meeting - attended by 11 people - that the trust had 'put the statutory notice in the local press.'

Not only did they do the minimum possible to publicise the AGM but their website claims that all meetings are held at their headquarters at Sheencroft in Haywards Heath. Neither notice of the AGM nor copies of the Annual Report and Accounts appear on their website.

Serena said:

"I only found out about the meeting by chance an hour before it started. When I got to the Martlets, the room was full of tables with abandoned coffee cups. The notice on the wall said 'Staff Awards 2006'. There was no indication that a public meeting was taking place."

The meeting was staffed by 11 directors and officers of the PCT and attended by just 11 members of the public. Although copies of the Annual Report and Accounts were at the meeting, they were on a stage behind the PCT members. Members of the public had to ask for copies to be handed out.

Serena Tierney said:

"It is unbelievable that a public body should treat the annual opportunity for the public to question its activities with such contempt. Could it be that they do not wish to be questioned about the PCT's £5m deficit?"