I know that many people have been concerned by the introduction of specialist heart care services in the East of England through what are called PPCI centres. I wanted to take this opportunity to reassure everybody that my only objective is that Ipswich people get the best possible health care.

Being an MP is about taking tough decisions. I have spent days reading hundreds of pages of clinical guidance by the experts on this issue. I have met with many of the experts involved, including the top cardiac surgeon in the UK.

I know that my view is not popular; however, I believe it to be right. To change my position arbitrarily would be immoral.

Is Ipswich Hospital losing any services? NO - Ipswich Hospital is not losing any existing services. Angioplasty (balloon) treatment is a new, specialised, service. Three-quarters of all heart attack patients will continue to be treated at Ipswich Hospital, exactly as before.

What about travel times to a specialist centre? To work, angioplasty treatment needs to be administered within 150 minutes from being collected by the ambulance to the commencement of treatment at a PPCI centre. Ipswich is comfortably within 150 minutes ambulance drive from Cambridge, Norwich or Basildon. This is proven by actual ambulance travel times.

Why not put a specialist centre in Ipswich? A specialist PPCI centre is simply not viable at Ipswich Hospital. Anybody who promises one, or calls for one to be built knows that such a service simply is not an option. This has nothing to do with money. It is about how much practice doctors have at performing complex surgery. A PPCI centre performing less than 166 procedures per year has a 50% higher death rate than one performing 520 procedures per year. Therefore, an undersized PPCI centre in Ipswich would be worse for local people, not better.

Does Ipswich Hospital always lose out? NO – Ipswich Hospital already has specialist centres for spinal care, gynaecological cancer and radiotherapy.

Could the consultation from the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) have been better? Undoubtedly. I believe that the NHS has failed to engage with patient groups and the wider community and have been telling the SHA this, even before this process began – I have made it clear to them that they need to up their game in future.

Below is all of the national guidence which I have read in coming to my position. I wanted to make sure that you knew exactly why I have taken the stance that I have.

However, if you want to debate these points with me further, please write to me at 33 Silent Street, Ipswich, IP1 1TF

Description	Document
'A Guide to Implementing Primary Angioplasty'
'Minding Hearts and Brains: A Clinical Case for Change'