MP Oliver Heald has called for Crow Country to have proper representation on the newly merged Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT). This week it was confirmed that the East and North Herts PCT, which currently serves Royston and the surrounding villages

MP Oliver Heald has called for Crow Country to have proper representation on the newly merged Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT).

This week it was confirmed that the East and North Herts PCT, which currently serves Royston and the surrounding villages, would be merging with its West Hertfordshire counterpart to create one single organisation for the whole county.

The new body will be making decisions about the future of Royston Hospital, which has been under the threat of redevelopment or even closure for the last five months.

Mr Heald said: "During the consultation into this merger, one of the key points made was that there should be representation on the board for East and North Herts.

"It is well known that West Herts has far more intermediate care beds than East and North Herts, yet Royston Hospital beds are under review with the decision due in the early summer. We need to know that the new body - which will make the decision - understands concerns in our area of the county."

Stuart Bloom, current chairman of West Hertfordshire PCT has been appointed chairman of the new organisation and seven, as yet un-named, non-executive directors have also been recruited in recent weeks.

Anne Walker, chief executive of the PCTs, said: "We have challenging times ahead and this decision gives us the platform to explore new innovative ways of working with others making the best use of our joint resources to improve the quality of services for patients".

The new body, named NHS Hertfordshire, will come into operation on April 1.