Hertsmere Labour Councillors have raised concerns with senior Council Officers and the CEO of Herts Valleys NHS Clinical Commissioning Group following revelations that the mobile breast cancer screening unit was removed from Borehamwood due to the lease of parking spaces on a commercial basis to the BBC.  The unit was previously sited in Borehamwood’s Brook Road Car Park for ten months of the year.

It has now been disclosed that this arrangement was ended in 2016 when demand for space in the Car Park rose due to a commercial lease the Council entered into with the BBC.  However, Councillors and the wider public were not told at the time that this would lead to the removal of this important facility.  None of the recommended alternative sites came to fruition.

Labour Councillors have urgently proposed making space available at the Civic Offices Car Park or utilising the currently empty space vacated due to the closure of the Borehamwood Bowls Club.

Hertsmere Labour believe that the Council should be helping NHS providers deliver their commitment to providing breast screening appointments at locations within the vicinity of people’s own local GP.  Given local bus cuts this is more important than ever.

A spokesperson for Hertsmere Labour said:

“We have asked both the Council and the Chief Executive of the Herts Valleys NHS Clinical Commissioning Group to explain the position and explore alternative local provision.  Following the stealth closure of Borehamwood’s local blood clinic and the sudden shutdown of the family planning/sexual health clinic, this is the third occasion in recent months where the removal of a key NHS service in the town only becomes public after it has gone, without any consultation or communication with local people. This is a deeply problematic trend.  On this occasion it resulted from a decision made by our Tory led Council. This time they can’t pass the buck.”