HEALTH chiefs have concentrated on cutting waiting lists at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow rather than services at Epping's St Margaret's Hospitalo .

John Palmer, a member of Epping Forest Primary Care Trust's user consultative forum speaking at the trust's annual general meeting drew attention to the still non-operational day surgery at the Epping hospital.

He said: "We were told surgery would be started in the three operating theatres at the hospital by April this year, but I'm sorry to say that it hasn't happened yet even though the theatres have been updated."

Trust chief executive Aidan Thomas said: "We apologise for not being able to start the surgery as planned but our efforts have been directed towards reducing the number of people on the waiting list at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow. But we hope to start it by end of October."

Mr Palmer also wanted to know if a pain clinic could be opened in the district to save people going to Whipps Cross Hospital's clinic in Leytonstone. Dr Rory McCrea, chairman of the trust's executive committee, said: "Our main aim is to rid people of their pain before it becomes a permanent fixture in their lives and they become dependent on such clinics. And then again, some clinics are successful while others may not be that successful."

The user forum, chaired by Sheila Jackman one of the trust's non-officer members consists of representatives from voluntary organisations and service users in the district, who discuss matters of concern and receive regular information from the trust.

November 1, 2001 17:05