Hospital D-Day around the corner!

The latest stage in the fight to save vital services is only days away - A special meeting has been convened in Manchester on Friday (8th December) to make the decision, and Rochdale MP - Paul Rowen has vowed to drive home the message that "Rochdale says NO" to losing vital children's, maternity and neonatal services. The decision is vital for health provision in Rochdale, already reeling from a provisional decision to slash Accident and Emergency Services at the Infirmary.

Paul Rowen MP, who will address the meeting said, "This is a crucial decision and I will be there all day to make our points clear. I hope that we can celebrate a positive decision; this will be the result of a fantastic campaign that has engaged Rochdale like never before. The proposed axing of services at our Infirmary has been the biggest single issue I have faced since being elected. There are many people who have worked tirelessly with me on this campaign. This includes Carole Ashworth-Lord and the Midwives, Councillor Jean Ashworth, Father Arthur Nearey and the Friends of our Hospital and over 50,000 residents from Rochdale and beyond who refused to see vital services being lost!"

Council Leader - Councillor Alan Taylor said, "We are hopeful that our Children's and Maternity Services will be saved. Make no mistake - it was the collective voices in Rochdale that made sure that retaining these vital services is even an option. Everyone from all walks of life, all ages and all political parties are vehemently are opposed to this and we will see if they have really listened to us."