Hospital campaign group urges Morley support
Morley patients are being urged to support hospital campaigners. (D16071047)
A campaign group fighting to preserve local hospital services is calling on people in Morley to join a protest rally this weekend.
Save Our Local Hospital Services (SOLHS) is opposing plans to change the type of emergency, maternity, children’s and surgical care offered at Dewsbury and District Hospital.
Organiser Paul Wheelhouse said: “The point of the of the demo is to keep pressure on North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group and the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust, and show the depth of feeling against these cuts.”
Among the most controversial aspects of the plans is the proposed downgrading of Dewsbury’s A&E department.
It means only minor emergency cases could be treated there, and the most serious cases would be handled at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.
A three-month public consultation on the proposals started on March 4, but the changes have been the topic of heated debate since last summer.
Mr Wheelhouse said: “More than 25,000 people have signed petitions of protest. How much more do they need to know?
“Local people oppose the transfer of local services, but the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust persists in pushing through its plans.”
SOLHS is urging anyone concerned by the plans to join its members outside Dewsbury Town Hall on Saturday March 23 for a rally at noon.
Mr Wheelhouse said: “I was at the first consultation meeting on Monday which was full of more than 100 people. Not one individual stood up in defence of these cuts.
“It’s important people now come on the demo because we’ve done all these petitions and letters, but they still don’t seem to be listening.”
Health bosses say reorganising services at hospitals in Dewsbury, Wakefield and Pontefract will save more lives, reduce waiting and recovery times, and make sure services are financially sustainable.
A public meeting to discuss the consultation issues was held in Morley Town Hall last night. Further meetings and roadshows are scheduled to be held in Morley in May.
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Friday 24 May 2013
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