3,000 take to the streets...

 

SOUTHPORT was to witness one of its largest demonstrations to date as parents, grandparents and children joined the CARES (Coalition Against Removal of Kids Emergency and other Services) protest march on Sunday the 17 August. The protest centres on Southport and Ormskirk Trusts dissension to move women's and children's services to Ormskirk Hospital and it was no surprise that it would course a lot of anger, but what no one expected was just now many would turn up. Tony Dawson Lib Dem Association Vice Chair said "I think the NHS Trust just imagine it is just a few people voicing their opinions and hoping they will just go away. I can not see anything on this scale happening in the town before and it shows the real feelings of the public." Mark Bigley just before he dashed off to his wedding said, "It is a fantastic show of strength and we will not role over. The people have made a visible statement that we want our services to be retained in Southport. This has been the largest demonstration in Southport I have ever seen." Setting off from Southport Town Hall the parade of protesters stretched all the way down Eastbank Street, making much of Southport Town Centre grind locked. The march gained supporters along the way. Even NHS staff outside the Southport Infirmary gave their support, as well as of duties Ambulance staff. Eventually halting at Meols Cop Park where CARES members preformed speeches to a massive audience. A petition was then taken across to the Hospital by a small group of representatives. Children then presented the 14,365 signatures to Mark Witstanly who is the chairman of the PCT and Andrew Johnson who is the NHS Trust chairman.  One of the CARES members who passed the petition over to the Trust told us "It is a highly complex problem, but closing and moving children's services to Ormskirk is not the answer. We are going to stand up and be counted. How many children will have to die before the A&E returns to Southport? Already it has had an impact on treatment of children and it is just going to get worse."

In response a Southport Hospital issued this press release:- "Andrew Johnson, Chairman of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust and Mark Winstanley, Chairman of Southport and Formby Primary Care Trust, today received a petition from local people at the end of a march through Southport, demonstrating against the movement of women's and children's services to Ormskirk.

"We would like to thank everybody who has taken the time to come here today to express their views on the recent movement of women's and children's services to Ormskirk. We know the community has the welfare of their children at heart and we understand the reasons why the march has taken place. However, if we could have retained services at Southport we would have done so, but this is not possible. The trusts feel that a return of children's services to Southport would be to revert to the status quo - and we all know that would not work.

"Whilst we cannot revert back to what we had before, we do care about the feelings of the community and we do listen to their concerns.  The PCT, as the lead for the planning and commissioning of health services in the community, has been considering the possibility of a children's minor injuries unit.  Both Trusts are working together looking at real options for a minor injuries unit and we intend to involve local people in that work. We will be making an announcement in the near future detailing how we plan to take this forward. We are clear that the Trusts will carry on listening to what our community tells us, and if we are able to modify services to improve convenience without compromising safety then this will be considered.""

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