WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has backed up her campaign opposing plans to remove specialist vascular services from Warrington Hospital with a 1,220 signature-strong petition.
The MP has been campaigning since November last year against plans which will see specialist vascular surgery services removed from Warrington Hospital and re-located at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Signatures for the petition were collected by Helen and the local Labour Party at street stalls, whilst door-knocking and online at www.warringtonlabour.com .
Helen said: “The sheer number of signatures to my petition clearly shows that people in Warrington are whole-heartedly against the plans to move these vital services away from our local hospital.
“I have said from the beginning that the whole review propose has been flawed and Warrington has not been treated fairly. Vascular services are a key part of our hospital as they affect many other services and treatments. I am very concerned about the future of our hospital if this decision goes ahead. Patients face extremely long journeys to Chester for treatment if the move takes place.
“I would like to thank everyone who has signed the petition for showing their support for my campaign. I just hope that the NHS board that makes the final decision acknowledges the feelings of local people and changes their decision.”
Helen held an Adjournment Debate about the move in the House of Commons in November 2011 and has held several meetings with fellow MPs, trade union representatives and the NHS.
The consultation will end this Friday (June 15).
A report will then be produced with a recommendation for consideration by NHS Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral at their Board Meeting on July 4 and NHS Merseyside at their Board Meeting on July 17. The Boards will make a decision on the location of the arterial centres for the North Mersey network, the South Mersey network, and options for mid-Mersey patients.
MP gains support to save hospital service
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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If the MP felt so strong you would have thought she would have knocked on each and every door to seek the 190,000 of the towns people instead of such a small sample but I guess that’s too much to ask of an MP whom is meant to stand up for the town – too much like hard work – to knock and speak with the towns people!!! What I would like to know is – if I was rushed into Warrington Hospital with an emergency would I be treated answer yes? from that if I needed specalist treatment and required me to be moved would I get it? answer yes but at another because lets face it we already do this for head injuries – people are taken to the Walton Centre in Liverpool – why do we do this? answer because the best treatment is there?? so MP for Warrington North – What you are saying is that you want to risk the lives of people in this Town? well thank you very much.