ISLE of Wight Council today stands accused of not taking an early enough stand against controversial plans to axe essential hospital services.

Tens of thousands of Islanders have already signed a petition calling for accident and maternity facilities to remain at St Mary's Hospital.

But it emerged today that councillors were invited to take part in a conference which helped form the controversial HealthFit proposals by Hampshire health chiefs as early as last July - but nobody bothered to attend.

Council leader Councillor Shirley Smart and Social Services portfolio holder Councillor Roger Mazillius - both members of the ruling Island First group - were also offered a mini HealthFit conference at a meeting with health bosses last November, according to information which has been passed to the Daily Echo.

The revelations have outraged members of the Conservative and Labour opposition groups on the Island's Council.

They have joined forces to condemn the authority for "misleading the public" over their involvement in the HealthFit consultation process.

This comes just days after Island MP Andrew Turner handed a 40,000-signature petition to health bosses in Hampshire, signed by Island residents protesting at the HealthFit proposals.

The controversial plans could see accident and emergency services on the Island downgraded and maternity services moved to the mainland.

Island First portfolio holder for Social Services Councillor Roger Mazillius said he had not been made aware of the communication which was made to the council earlier last year inviting the authority to the two-day conference - out of which emerged the HealthFit proposals.

But he admitted that both he and Cllr Smart attended a November meeting with Hampshire Health bosses where an offer was made of a mini HealthFit conference for the Island.

He said they had turned down the offer because they wanted the council to be in full possession of all the facts surrounding the proposals.

He said: "The way it was put to us about the diminuation of the hospital services, our comment was that we considered that would be truly unacceptable for the Island people. If that

was what they were going to do we thought we would see what was proposed and react on that with professional advice."

Shirley Smart, leader of the Council and Island First group, was first quizzed over the HealthFit presentation by Labour Group leader Councillor Deborah Gardiner at a full council meeting on January 22.

According to Cllr Gardiner, at that stage, Cllr Smart told the council that no presentation had been offered.

Cllr Gardiner added that at a mass meeting held in Newport's Medina Theatre in Newport on February 3, Cllr Mazillius implied that although the council had been approached over the proposals, they had decided against becoming involved as they had not wished to discuss the issue "behind closed doors".

Councillor Gardiner said: "If no representative of Island First were available to attend these meetings, then an offer should have been made by Island First to councillors of other parties to go along and ensure that the Island's interests were taken into account.

"I would certainly have made myself available to take part in such an important debate affecting so many Island residents. All this could have been avoided, and it is no use now jumping on the "save our hospital" bandwagon. Crying foul now, when the damage is done, is disgraceful and they should take responsibility for failing Islanders with their inertia. It's not a question of not wanting to do anything behind closed doors. It is a question of trying to save face now that the stable doors are shut and the horse bolted."

Andy Sutton, Conservative Group leader, said: "The council's negligence has led to great heartache. The Island's views could have been taken into account long before this document was published and the genuine fear and concern that is being felt by people all across the Island could have been avoided."

The Hands off Our Hospital petition will be open for signing until Sunday, March 23.