Council Leader welcomes Infirmary Review!

Can I congratulate campaigners from Rochdale Infirmary and Fairfield Hospital - We never gave up hope that the campaigns were over. This Council has continued the good campaigning reputation it has and I thank the Council Members in this room who have done a massive amount of work. I am delighted that the Secretary of State for Health will now review this crass, ill thought decision. Praise too must go to Paul Rowen - Rochdale's MP who has worked solidly with campaigners including the Friends of our Hospital to ensure this campaign is not over! I was proud to see this announcement made by the Secretary of State was prompted by a Parliamentary Question by Paul. Outsiders who think Paul has failed Rochdale will now look incredibly stupid - maybe they'll think again before making ill thought, ill judged and ill conceived comments to the press.

I will now be insisting that the Independent Reconfiguration Panel come to speak to Councillors and Campaign Groups. I have also received assurances from the Chairs of Pennines and Rochdale Townships that they will be invited to future meetings as well as the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. We will also look at working with the Friends of our Hospital in a Public Meeting at the Town Hall so that this panel have no doubt that the whole of Rochdale is against these cost cutting exercises by the Government."

Ends

For further information please contact Councillor Alan Taylor on 01706 712 186.