Watford MP Richard Harrington has rejected a suggestion from a Conservative colleague that a review of health and social care in Hertfordshire should be postponed following an NHS chief’s resignation.

St Albans’ Tory MP Anne Main asked Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, in the House of Commons to freeze the Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group’s Your Care, Your Future consultation after the chief executive of West Herts Hospitals Trust, Samantha Jones, quit last week.

She said: "I was very unhappy that A&E [at St Albans City Hospital] was closed and moved to Watford General Hospital.

"Since then, Watford General has had a turbulent time, the chief executive resigned having got part-way through a process of consultation.

"May I ask for the consultation to be put on hold until the new chief executive is in place and has their feet under the table? We do not need more turbulence in our hospitals."

Mr Hunt said he was aware of the pressures on west Herts hospitals and agreed for the need of stability in management – but stopped short of calling for the consultation to be put on ice.

Mrs Main had previously told the St Albans Review she was angry at the timing of Mrs Jones’ resignation, adding her constituents felt "let down".

But Mr Harrington said he could see no reason why the "essential" review of health and social care services should be postponed.

He told the Review: "The ‘Your Care, Your Future’ programme should not, and will not, be put on hold.

"It builds on the 2013 Clinical Strategy and essentially is a way of making sure that our health and social care services work in the way that residents need them too in the future - we must absolutely continue with that.

"Given that the programme is chaired by Dr Nicolas Small of the CCG, and is supported by organisations such as the county council, foundation trust, and ambulance service, I see no reason why it would stop because of Sam’s departure – especially when it is so essential that we plan for the future.

"I am fully behind the programme and it will continue, and having discussed this with Jeremy Hunt personally, I know he is also supportive."

Watford’s elected Mayor Dorothy Thornhill dismissed Mrs Main’s suggestions. She said: "We’re entering silly season, with the election approaching, so politicians need to be seen backing their own hospitals.

"But we have to allow the CCG to do what they believe is in the best interests of the population of Hertfordshire and they will do what’s right."

Antony Tiernan, Director of Communications at the NHS Trust, said it was a "real shame" Mrs Main had not contacted the trust first.

He added the trust believes its new interim chief executive, Jac Kelly, has all the experience required to continue Mrs Jones’ work.

For more information about how to get involved in the Your Care, Your Future consultation visit www.yourcareyourfuture.org.uk