The takeover of Heatherwood/Wexham Park by the Frimley Park NHS, just agreed, will result in the people of South Bucks being robbed of having a democratic role in the future of hospital services in their area for the best part of half a year.

That’s because no governors from the locality will be able to formally vote on any change made by the new trust for a least five months– yet their counterparts in the existing Frimley set-up will stay in post.

The Surrey directors say, with justification, that the provisions are legal. Which shows that the law is an ass of the highest magnitude.

So, the future of the health services which affect hundreds of thousands of people in East Berkshire and South Bucks are to be over-seen by people who have no direct experience of this area.

At the most crucial period in the new body’s development – when it is being set up – that is a huge democratic deficit.

Overall, this unacceptable situation shows how daft it is for the NHS to affect to ape the business world. I urge the health secretary to make changes to the law as a matter of urgency. — Tim Arnold, Elected Governor for Slough, Heatherwood/Wexham Park NHS Trust