OPPOSITION councillors have hit out at Tory chiefs for claiming that Wycombe Hospital could shut.

Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors on Wycombe District Council said they could scarcely believe' claims from Conservative members.

Councillor Wendy Mallen, health spokeswoman for the council's cabinet, said last week: "We could lose our hospital."

This was because patients could choose to go to other hospitals, taking vital payment with them, she said.

Members then went on to attack decisions to remove major trauma care and consultant-led birthing services from the hospital.

Opposition councillors watching the meeting said in a statement that during that appalling 45 minutes we could scarcely believe where the discussion was going'. The statement, from Labour's Glyn Galbraith, the Liberal Democrat's Brian Pollock and Independent Malcolm Blanksby, said: "The statement about closure was entirely without substance and the extrapolation of a number of very inventive minds I'm sad to say."

It was nothing more than an alarmist and sensationalist headline grabbing act that will only cause unnecessary worry and concern for the people of Wycombe'.

The group said they agree entirely' with Anne Eden, chief executive of Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which pursued the controversial changes.

Ms Eden said in last week's Bucks Free Press: "Any suggestion that it is under threat is wildly irresponsible and inaccurate."