A low turnout of just 25 people at a ‘meet the boss’ event at St Albans Hospital has been described as “appalling” by local MP Anne Main.

The public meeting was hosted by health chief Samantha Jones, just before Christmas, one of three held at local hospitals run by the West Herts Hospitals Trust.

Mrs Main said that with health services facing the biggest shake-up in decades, residents needed to have their say.

She said Ms Jones told those at the meeting that while the trust was rich in terms of real estate, it was “poor” in the availability of funding for patients.

Mrs Main has urged residents to have their say on the provision of health care as there is currently a major review of services.

Local NHS organisations and Herts county council launched the review in November, dubbed “Your Care, Your Future”.

It will help determine the future shape of NHS and social care services across west Herts.

Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Sandy Walkington said the meeting “left more questions than answers about the future of St Albans hospital.”

He added: “Too often St Albans has had the short end of the stick in health reviews. It’s really important that local people make their voices heard.”

For more information and to have your say see www.yourcareyourfuture.org.uk