Doctors angry after Jeremy Hunt drinks event relocated to new venue

Doctors have spoken of their anger after being told an event with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt had been cancelled when it had actually been relocated to a new venue.

Mr Hunt had been due to attend a "drinks and canapes" evening on Friday organised by Fareham Conservatives with tickets on sale for £15.

But on the day of the event at the Lysses House Hotel in Fareham, a notice went up on the Fareham Conservatives' website stating that it had been cancelled.

It had actually been relocated for a members-only event because of security concerns over "the very real threat of disturbance".

Dr Kathryn Carey-Jones, who had bought a ticket to the event, said she felt she had been lied to.

She wrote on Facebook: "Tonight just hours before I was due to meet Jeremy Hunt in Fareham I was told the event was cancelled and that I would be refunded next week .. but it wasn't cancelled, the venue was changed and went ahead without us.

"I could have accepted being told I am 'not allowed' to attend given recent events but I was lied to to keep me away.

"This is dishonesty at its best and would not be accepted from a doctor to a politician. If this is the way the local conservatives treat their local doctors what can we expect from the rest? Imagine if we lied to the public like this."

Thomas Fyfe, chairman of Fareham Conservative Association, told the Portsmouth News: "Because of the very real threat of disturbance from groups circulating details of our planned reception with Jeremy Hunt, the advertised event was cancelled on security grounds.

"A smaller private event for party members to meet Mr Hunt was held instead at another location. We regret the inconvenience caused to those who had bought tickets and were unable to attend, all of whom will be offered a full refund."