Friarage protesters to take to streets of Northallerton (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Friarage protesters to take to streets of Northallerton
4:42pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News
The Friarage Hospital, Northallerton
UNISON members employed by South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be on the streets of Northallerton tomorrow asking the public for support in their fight to save children’s and maternity services from being downgraded at the Friarage Hospital.
South Tees NHS Foundation Trust and the GP-led Hambleton, Richmond and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group are currently undertaking a public consultation on the future of the services.
Under the proposals out for public consultation children's and maternity will be downgraded.
Janet Greig, Regional Organiser for UNISON, said: “These cuts will affect front line services for the people of Northallerton and the outlying area.
"These proposals present an unacceptable risk to pregnant women and their babies as well as to the wellbeing of every sick child this community."
The union will have a market stall on Northallerton High Street throughout Wednesday, October 24, where members of the public can sign petitions and send "Protect Our Services Postcards" to the trust board and CCG.
Comments(3)
damiwi
says...
12:43am Wed 24 Oct 12
Stan2Attention wrote:The Health Service modernisation is not the reason that changes to Children's services are being planned, therefore William Hague can oppose the planned changes and yet still be in favour of the overall modernisation plan. I am part of a big campaign group on Facebook where you will find lots of debate and information. https://www.facebook
The proposal to cut services at the Friarage has been put forward by local doctors. The local MP, William Hague, disagrees with their proposal.
Does this mean he no longer supports his own government's policy that doctors should be in charge of local health services?
A simple yes or no will do, Mr Hague.
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Stan2Attention
says...
9:42am Wed 24 Oct 12
Now, either Mr Hague accepts the judgement of the clinical commissioning group, or he doesn't. It seems he doesn't - which means he is casting doubt on one of the founding principles of the reforms.
This is important, because right round the country, clinical commissioning groups are coming up with proposals to close, merge or reduce services. It's already happening in London, where there are proposals to close several A&E departments.
The logic of Mr Hague's position is that GPs can't be trusted with decisions like these - in which case, why did he and his government vote for these reforms?
Stan2Attention says...
5:32pm Tue 23 Oct 12
Does this mean he no longer supports his own government's policy that doctors should be in charge of local health services?
A simple yes or no will do, Mr Hague.