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Minister offers fresh hope in A and E fight
23/ 2/2007
HEALTH secretary Patricia Hewitt has agreed to have a second look at plans to downgrade the accident and emergency unit at the Infirmary.
The news comes just two weeks after she agreed to review the decision to axe the children's and maternity wards at the hospital.
Local health representatives voted to scrap full A and E services, replace the unit with an urgent care centre and turn the Infirmary into a locality hospital.
But an independent reconfiguration panel will now reconsider the decision and make separate recommendations to Mrs Hewitt.
The news has thrilled campaigners, including Dave and Lisa-Louise Fitton, who launched legal proceedings against local health trusts.
Solicitors claim the trusts failed to consult the public properly over accident and emergency services and are waiting to find out whether a judicial review goes ahead.
Rochdale MP Paul Rowen said: "This is great news for campaigners. I do feel especially confident now that our voice is being heard.
"Campaigners have never given up and I hope this review will show these measures for what they are, a wholesale cost-cutting exercise.
"The fact health bosses are now prepared to look at both consultations is a huge step forward and, linked to the judicial review the courageous Fitton family have fronted for Rochdale, I feel health bosses had no choice.
"This is now a new start and I can't thank campaigners enough for their enthusiasm. Now begins the next stage of the campaign."
Councillor Jean Ashworth, a nurse at Rochdale Infirmary's children's unit, said: "This is great. I hope now, with a level playing field in this whole debate, we can save our services."
Former Rochdale MP Sir Cyril Smith said: "This news is welcomed and is another step forward for campaigners who never gave up.
"I know that the Friends of our Hospital, led by the superb Father Arthur Nearey, will now campaign with an extra spring in their step.
"The fact that the secretary of state has called in both decisions on the consultations illustrates what I have said all along - that the decision was flawed, and lacked common sense.
"There is still a long way to go and we must acknowledge that we haven't won the fight yet, but this is definitely a step in the right direction."
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29/09/2007 at 16:55
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