A director of a healthcare review proposing frontline closures at Epsom Hospital and St Helier Hospital answered reader’s questions during a filmed interview.

Dr Marilyn Plant from the Better Services Better Value (BSBV) healthcare review covered everything from public opinion to the care of vulnerable people in the community during the half-hour interview on Friday, August 23.

Part 1 of 2

We were inundated with questions with a particular focus on community services and the future of urgent care centres.

Dr Plant approached the campaigns to save both hospitals and said defending services that were “letting people down” was something BSBV struggled to understand.

When asked why BSBV had not persuaded the public with their proposals she replied: “Well I’m not persuaded that we haven’t persuaded the public.

“I think campaign groups often have a lot of exposure and have their pictures in the media they do a lot of campaigning."

Part 2 of 2

She added: “What I want to do is have a consultation that talks to people who don’t leave their home.

"People who perhaps have learning difficulties, people who don’t speak English as a first language and people who have really difficult home caring responsibilities. They don’t have time to get out.

“It will be about getting out to hard to reach groups not just the noisiest.”

The questions we did not have time for will be put to BSBV and we will publish the answers.