East End residents have been left in the cold by Government’s failure to speak out over the closure of the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre, the Opposition has charged.

The Bermuda Hospitals Board announced last week that the centre will shut by the end of the month due to the high cost of running the facility and low usage.

St David’s MP Lovitta Foggo yesterday challenged One Bermuda Alliance MPs for the East End Kenny Bascome, Nandi Davis, and Suzann Roberts-Holshouser to speak up for the community over the closure.

She claimed that, while the East End had “provided the margin of victory for the One Bermuda Alliance’s Election campaign”, the OBA had turned its back on the community.

The Progressive Labour Party MP added that the OBA had last year promised to move more Government services to Southside, as well as accusing the PLP of neglecting the East.

Saying the OBA had made “petty promises before the election” in a bid to win votes, she called on OBA MPs to “stand up for the residents of the East End”.

She also said the closure had been undertaken with no explanation, consultation or “consideration of any alternatives” for residents.

“Bermudians deserve better,” she said. “They deserve a Premier that won’t turn his back on his community. They deserve better than Members of Parliament that can pose for photo-ops but are silent when the urgent care centre is taken from their constituents.”

Mrs Roberts-Holshouser, MP for St George’s West, last night said that as a St David’s resident she and her family had used the Centre on a few occasions.

“The convenience of having the clinic at our doorstep and not having to wait to be helped has certainly been a luxury and indeed I am saddened to have learned of the necessity of the Bermuda Hospitals Board to close the facility,” she said.

But she added: “It is important to establish that such a matter as ‘healthcare’ is not to be undermined by making political hay, but should lead us into further consultation and an action plan as how to best facilitate the needs of the community moving forward.”

She said she was encouraged that the BHB said there was still an opportunity for the building to be used as a medical facility, saying that the closure could provide an opportunity for a new private medical practice.

“As suggested in the recent press statement ‘The Bermuda Hospitals Board will support Government in seeking solutions that best meet the country’s needs,’ and as one of the Members of Parliament in the area, I look forward to working on an initiative with my fellow colleagues to see how we can make the best of this situation,” she said.

Mr Bascome — who represents St George’s North — meanwhile said he had arranged to meet with Mr Brewin regarding the closure and would refrain from commenting until he had “all the facts”.