A dad is calling for Hemel Hempstead Hospital to be revived after his daughter was knocked down by a car.
Four-year-old Zaleha Zahoor was hit as she walked home from Broadfield Primary School’s nursery with her mother Naila Zahoor on Friday afternoon.
The youngster, who suffered a broken arm, had stepped off the pavement into Adeyfield Road, Hemel Hempstead, and was waiting to cross close to the junction with Mountfield Road when the accident happened.
She was first rushed to Hemel Hempstead’s Urgent Care Centre by paramedics but her father Zahoor Iqbal insisted that she be taken to Watford General Hospital.
He feared that the youngster could had suffered a serious head injury and would not be checked over thoroughly enough at the Hemel Hempstead centre because it is no longer a fully fledged hospital – the A&E department is closed and many services have been centralised.
The dad-of-two, from St Paul’s Road in the town, said: “The hospital is near the football ground and Watford is a very busy place. You need a hospital in Hemel Hempstead.”
West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust director of strategy and infrastructure Louise Gaffney said: “We can confirm that should parents bring a sick child to the Urgent Care Centre we have a clear process for their management. Our Paediatric Early Warning System ensures prompt identification of the sick child with immediate blue light transfer to Watford General hospital, if required.”
Ms Gaffney said the trust would be happy to speak to Mr Iqbal about his concerns.
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