FORMER Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell has laid the blame for the hospital's continued failure to improve at Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's door.

Just 14 months ago Mr Hunt visited the Turner Road hospital and met with previous chairman Peter Wilson and former chief executive Dr Lucy Moore and labelled the leadership team as "terrific".

Speaking exclusively to the Gazette at the time, Mr Hunt said: “I wanted to see for myself how the hospital was doing.

"It is clear staff are working incredibly hard here.

"There is a terrific new leadership in place and they are doing everything they possibly can to turn the hospital around and get out of special measures."

He added: "I am encouraged by the work being done by the leadership here in Colchester."

But yesterday Sir Bob said: "The 'blame' for the current situation must end up on Jeremy Hunt’s desk.

"It was only [just over a year ago] when I had a meeting with him in his office at the Department of Health – followed by a visit by him to the hospital while I was still the MP for Colchester, when I accompanied him – he was confidently stating that such was the progress being made that the hospital was well on the way to coming out of special measures.

"Since then he has put in a new chief executive and a new chairman.

"So how is it that matters have – if we believe what we are being told – that the progress of 14 months ago has gone into reverse?"

Sir Bob added: "I remain full square in support of all the hard-working staff – medical and support – at Colchester General Hospital who have been so badly let down."