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Keep up hospital fight to the end

Beatriz Ayala
23/12/2006

HOSPITAL campaigners must not give up the fight to save vital services at the Infirmary, says Rochdale MP Paul Rowen.

Health representatives will make the final decision whether to cut urgent accident and emergency care at the Infirmary at the Town Hall on 5 January.

Mr Rowen is urging members of the public to attend and show 'in no uncertain terms' their objection to the cuts.

Health bosses had provisionally agreed in September to scrap urgent A and E at the Infirmary and turn it into a locality hospital.

Then, two weeks ago, a separate provisional decision was made to cut the Infirmary's maternity, neo-natal and children's services.

Next month's meeting, which was originally scheduled for 14 December, will decide if the services will be axed.

Mr Rowen said: "I welcome the fact this will be dealt with early in the new year - and also in Rochdale.

"I've criticised health bosses previously for holding vital meetings miles outside Rochdale so this location is welcome.

"I would encourage as many residents as possible to take up this opportunity to come down to the meeting and let health bosses know in no uncertain terms we will not accept this disgraceful decision."

Rochdale council leader, Councillor Alan Taylor met with his Bury counterpart, Councillor Wayne Campbell, angry at cuts planned for Fairfield Hospital, to discuss whether the two local authorities should ask the secretary of state for health to 'call in' the decision.

Councillor Taylor said: "The meeting was quite positive. We are both shocked at this disgraceful decision and will be working together to make sure we let Patricia Hewitt know to deprive the whole of the north east sector of the Pennine Acute Trust of maternity and children services is completely unacceptable.

"We will continue to fight our corner and will be meeting again in the New Year to take this campaign forward."

Councillor Taylor also queried the role of Jim Dobbin, MP for Castleton, Norden and Bamford, during the year-long campaign to save Rochdale Infirmary services.

He said: "One of the things I discussed with the Bury council leader was the fact they have a Labour council and Labour MPs and whether they could use their contacts further.

"I am also concerned about the lack of commitment from MP Jim Dobbin in retaining services in the North East sector."

Mr Dobbin hit back and said: "This is an attempt to make it a political issue and its not.

"The difficulty I have is that none of the hospitals in the Pennine Acute Trust are in my constituency and it would be foolish for me to stand on the picket lines arguing for one.

"Politicians in Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton, Bury and Rossendale should be working together with health workers and members of the community to protect as many NHS services in this part of my constituency.

"When we are seeking unity, councillor Taylor is seeking division."

He added: "I've spent 34 years in the health service, worked at the Royal Oldham hospital for 22 years and was also a member of the former health authority, so he can't lecture me about protecting or supporting the NHS."


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(5)


Most recent 2 of 5 user comments

   this is an outrage to close down a vital hostpital.they only shut down birchill not long back and built the new hostpital whats happening i cant understand 1 bit. If the government thought more and cut down on arms then more money would go on proper issues and priority like the nhs. Cant these jumped up polititions see this.Why buy arms and make cut backs on the nhs,do they know some thing we dont like ww3 is going to happen.stupid people. Save rochdale infirmary.
mark, wardle
3/01/2007 at 16:01
   It is obvious that those making the decisions have had little use of the emergency services, especially at week-end. Otherwise they would realise what a tragic mistake they are making. I not only refer here to patients but also concerns for the staff. It is a pity that those making these choices could not be made legally accountable for what they do. Like the staff are.
George Smith, Rochdale
1/01/2007 at 20:04
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