Hands off hospital
7:00am Fri Apr 30, 2010
Campaigners are calling on people to show how much they care about the future of Newark Hospital by forming a 250-strong human chain outside the site.
The demonstration, at noon on Monday, is being organised by the Save Newark Hospital group to give people a chance to object to proposals for the hospital.
The campaign secretary, Mr Paul Baggaley, said it would send a strong message to health bosses who are proposing to reclassify Newark’s A & E as a minor injuries unit.
“You talk to anybody and they say they don’t like what is happening. They don’t want to lose the hospital or the A & E,” he said. “But people don’t feel that they can do anything about it.
“This is a very easy way, by giving up a very short amount of time, to show that they care.”
The campaign plans to form a human chain on pavements around the site boundaries on Boundary Road and Bowbridge Road.
They will not go onto the site itself and will not block hospital entrances.
As soon as the chain has been formed a whistle will be blown to disband it and people will disperse.
“The aim is to cause the least amount of disruption as possible,” said Mr Baggaley.
He said the demonstration was not political, despite the campaign being chaired by the Labour Parliamentary candidate for Newark, Dr Ian Campbell.
Mr Baggaley said the Conservative candidate, Mr Patrick Mercer, and the Liberal Democrat candidate, Mrs Pauline Jenkins, were welcome to attend and had been invited to join the campaign.
“This isn’t a political thing for me and it isn’t for other people. My personal feeling is I don’t really care about people’s political careers,” said Mr Baggaley.
The group was informing both the hospital and the police about the demonstration.
People are being advised to arrive at the main hospital gate on time and on foot to avoid adding to traffic problems.
By liverpoolnewark
Excellent ! Maybe one outside Kings Mill offices for the SFHT and Notts offices of the PCT next ??
FightforNewark well done !
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