More than 350 people formed a human chain around the boundary fence of Newark Hospital at noon today.
The demonstration was organised by the Save Newark Hospital group to give residents the chance to show how they feel about the hospital.
The group's chairman is the Labour Parliamentary candidate for Newark Dr Ian Campbell who was at the event along with the two other main candidates Mr Patrick Mercer (Con) and Mrs Pauline Jenkins (Lib Dem).
The secretary of the group Mr Paul Baggaley of Charles Street, Newark, said he was very pleased with the turn-out and said it showed the strength of support for the hospital.
He said they were not asking for more services to be provided at the hospital but said they wanted to protect what was there.
For more on this and other stories buy the Advertiser every Friday.
Well done everyone. Patrick Mercer had no option but to turn up. If he hadn't it would have been his death knell. It still could be as he has used it for electioneering purposes not because he supports the campaign
Patrick Mercer, said that our hospital is, much lower on the public’s agenda, apparently nothing could be further from the truth but I think for Mr Mercer our hospital concerns, indeed our very wellbeing, are of a lower agenda and I strongly doubt the man would ever trouble to fight tooth and nail for the people of Newark in the plain-spoken up-front manner of Dr Ian Campbell.
I believe a vote for Dr Campbell is a vote for proper representation of our concerns and a vote for anti-cruelty behaviour towards animals.
Regretfully its been confirmed that Mercer would support the repeal of the ban on foxhunting.
I think if truth be told Patrick Mercer was involved in too many scandals born of his perceivably indifferent behaviour and crass rhetoric and it's time Newark had a new MP.
Just looking at the report of East Midlands tv They reckon there was only 200. I have doubts about the negative reporting of the situation. It has always appeared from the start that BBC east Midlands appear to support the Nottinghamshire County NHS Trust and take their word as gospel. The BBC are so out of touch that they are talking about a public consultation in November. They need to wake up. That has already taken place. Hence my remark about negative reporting
Great effort ! Now is the time though to confront the Notts County NHS trust and the PCT and SFHT on budgets and expenditure.
As I said on the other page get rid of a few senior people on those trusts who are all making £80,000 and over and you could easily fund Newark's A@E.
Remember folks over £250,000,000 has been spent on Kings Mill and according to rumours they wouldn't spend £40,000 a year on sorting the car-parking and space issue at Newark Hospital.
Sorry I didn't make it down but have a hip operation in a month and was not in good shape. Old Bones creaking !
Let me understand this correctly. We have a review of Newark Hospital's services, under a Labour Gov't and approved by a Labour Minister, Lord Darzi and the Labour candidate and members blame the Conservative MP? Another question: direction signs point to Newark Hospital's A&E when one approaches in a car. Er, the PCT should be done under the Trades Description Act, when did NH ever have an A&E service? I agree it should have, but it never has whilst Labour have been in power. Under Labour the Ambulance Service has let Newark down, under Labour the PCT has been allowed to allocate resources towards the money pit of Kings Mill. Labour has ignored Newark, not Patrick Mercer.
Robin , I agree but we all have to forget party politics this is way too important .
From what I understand Mr Mercer has questioned the veracity of the promises of the PCT and SFHT so maybe we have Mr Campbell getting the people mobilised and Mr Mercer working behind the scenes ?
I'm only making a guess . But I do know from good sources that the Trusts turned down the chance to sort the Car Parking and storage issues at the Hospital against the wishes of those actually running Newark Hospital .
There is also rumoured disagreement within the trusts as evidenced by the resignation a senior figure last year.
All I know is that over A quarter of a BILLION has been wasted/spent on Kings Mill but when it comes to spending just tens of thousands to help the infrastructure of Newark Hospital they refuse .
I think that says it all , they want to run Newark Hospital down ! As evidenced by the Pharmacy being denied funding and wards being shut and the PCT refusing to guarantee that the Funds for Newark Hospital will be kept to current levels .
The "Save the Hospital Campaign" have done a sterling job but they now need to confront the PCT and SFHT on matters of financial detail !
Good Luck to everyone regardless of political bias .
Whatever Mr Mercer has or hasn't been doing it clearly hasn't worked. Any MP worth their seat would have formed the Save Newark Hospital Campaign themselves but we had to rely on the unelected Dr Ian Campbell and the Bassetlaw MP John Mann to kick-start our campaign. If Dr Campbell is elected he will immediately run a postal ballot of all residents to give them a chance to have a real say about the future of the hospital (instead of the sham consultation process offered by the PCT). No other candidate is offering us the chance to be heard.
The very fact that Mr Mercer agreed to attend the protest and the observation "Mr Mercer refused to join the chain" spoke volumes of a lack of support to protect our hospital services.
Having looked at the crowd of people joining hands in a chain of concern for the future of their hospital I suspect that Mr Mercer continued to be "thoroughly fed up with people who constantly see problems".
If Mr Mercer was working behind the scenes a freedom of information request in that regard failed to verify any such alleged efforts.
Regardless of all that been done and said it is my belief that unless the people come to their senses and realise Patrick Mercer is a country first and then regards Newarkers second or perceivably of a much lower agenda, we will unfortunately, have yet again, a prospering very occupied world affairs MP steeped in issues that avail us not and a MP Newarkers will then so richly deserve. Get off your posterior and vote!
Pravda no disrespect but we have three of the worst candidates ever in the history of UK politics , sorry the worst Gordon Brown and two appalling Blair parodies .
We can't let the fight to save Newark Hospital turn into a party political affair . I knowr Campbell has took a stance but it's his party that has created the policy that we are fighting .
The boards of the SFHT and PCT are full of Labour members .
Let's focus on the budgets and financial detail as that is where the whole health review argument is exposed. I know I'm working on third hand information but what I mentioned above about the trusts being unwilling to back the wishes of the actual Hospital managers and sort the space and parking issues at the hospital I believe to be true.
While a quarter of a Billion has been spent on Kings Mill they won't spend a few tens of thousands on Newark .
That's where we should be applying pressure not squabbling over politics ! We are better than the politicians so let's stay above their petty dealings !
Liverpoolnewark: do you really think if the boards of the SFHT and PCT were full of Tory members things would be any better when Tory health spokesman accepted £21,000 donation from a private health firm boss and Cameron had a meeting with NHS privatisation campaigners?
Do you think Patrick Mercer would fight for our healthcare when he declined to be part of the Save Newark Hospital campaign and do you really think he would care about the issues you care about?
I continue to believe that without the representation of a MP that is on our side, things will go from bad to worse and, we all know that Mr Mercer concerns rest mainly with country issues and so I believe we will have a Tory government but desperately need an obliging Newark MP that is on our side and over the 9 years that Mr Mercer was our MP we have seen him snub people, make crass statements that upset decent people and get involved in scandals that reflect badly upon Newark.
So yes now is the right time the only time to express displeasure of one I believe used us like a stepping stone to advance his own agenda.
He said he would put us first and I think he reneged everything seem to come before the town and so I believe we have tolerated and empowered him long enough.
Especially so, if we want a devoted town MP willing to put us first and foremost and totally opposed to cruelty to animals for sport.
Hilarious , the PCT are laughing at all of you. The Hospital is to be closed over the next three years . The decision is already made and they will blame it on the next government .
i agree dr ian campbell appears so sincere,and devoted to saving a and e at newark hospital,i was there supporting the protest,but why couldnt ian campbell be tory,it greaves me to give labour another chance,they have had so many opportunities and blown them,patrick mercer doesnt have much of a clue about the real people,then again look at his agenda not up to much from blue should be the colour
Rocky do what I am doing. I am voting for the person who I think will do more for Newark. Remember Ted Bishop? He was a Labour man but that didnt stop him being a good MP for Newark. Way up the pros and cons of having Mr Mercer for another term or having a complete change.
liverpoolnewark. Reading your comments over the last few weeks it appears that you fully support Mr Mercer. He has not come up with any proof that he has been working behind the scenes. You have madeassumptions that all members of the PCT are Labour cronies. You must understand that if some one waves forty pieces of silver in front of your face then common sense goes out the window. No matter what political party you belong to if you work for the community then you will receive public support. Mr Mercer has very little public support when itcomes to supporting the Camp0aign to save NewarkHospital. Mr Truthy has hit the nailon the head when he states that Newark Hospital will close.It will become a glorified Clinic. Already rumours are circulating that knee and hip replacements are to be transferred to Kingsmill. There are NHS patients having their operation done at the Parks. Ask yourself WHY. Because it shows that Newark is not working to capacity. Another reason to downgrade Newark. Mr Mercer DECLINED to join the SAVE NEWARK HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN because he is arrogant and thinks he knows better. He made itpolitical because he refused to work with people who are concerned about the future of the hospital.
Is that right fightfornewark? Did Mr Mercer really refuse to join the campaign. I thought he attended the event on Sunday to show solidarity. I thought he was going to join the chain too. Didnt he link arms with us then?
Fight if Mr Campbell single handed saves the Hospital then he deserves to be the MP of Newark.
I just think from what I have heard that Mr Mercer has been working to try and get the PCT and SFHT to guarantee budgets and as he has said recently he doesn't believe them anymore.
I think we are all on the same side and if people here have personal grudges against Mr Mercer then don't use this campaign to air them .
Fight/Pravda a lot of people behind the scenes are working like dogs to fight for the Hospital just because they won't or more likely can't make it public is something you need to be aware of.
As for Truth he has been proven to be right in the past but if they do close the hospital then I would be gobsmacked as it goes against all their spin and promises .
The only way to stop this is by asking the SFHT and PCT pertinent questions as to Finance and Budgets.
We can wave all the placards we want but Mr Campbell has the opportunity to smash apart their "Health Review" by asking the questions I have mentioned before !
Fight they have spent 250 million or more on Kings Mill and from a close friend I heard they won't spend £40000 a year sorting the car parking problem even though the Newark Hospital Managers wanted to. Thats half the salary of one top SFHT / PCT employee !
That says it all they don't want to spend a penny more on Newark Hospital and are looking to cut the Budget .
Focus on the Issues and the Financial questions and we have a chance get lost in blaming Mr Mercer and the PCT as Truth says will be laughing all the way to the bank !
As for my hip yep I'm, booked in the park . You wouldn't get me to Kings Mill by gunpoint the place is full of MRSA .
Fight you have done a great job but their are plenty of others behind the scenes doing their bit too !
That is correct Baldo He refused to join the Campaign group even though he was invited along with the LibDem at the Southwell Hustings. The only reason (if you read between the lines) he came to the Chain was if he did not turn up it would have been political suicide
liverpool. I know what Kingsmill is like. I have turned it down on two seperate occasions for surgery. Instead I went to the City Hospital due to medical condition. I spent five weeks ferrying a friend who could not drive to visit their spouse who could have been seen at Newark and diagnosed for his medical complaint that had an 80% survival rate. He died because they did not diagnose it until it was too late for treatment.I ferried the person at no cost. The words of thanks were good enough. The punch line is that Kings Mill is no better than Newark
I Believe Newark A&E, has NOT sufficient help From all the candidates regarding the future of Newark Hospital. I know only two candidates who joined the Human Chain Dr Ian Campbell and Pauline Jenkins, why did Patrick Mercer stand on the side lines and would didn’t join in the Human Chain? Stop attacking others and Save Newark Hospital rather than the NHS Trust. Our campaign is in the public interest, we are not “incorrect or irresponsible” regarding the future of the Newark A&E
Patrick Mercer has been right not to join the Campaign goup directly, this would allow the PCT to dismiss it as a party political stunt (it is already seriously diminished with Dr Campbell as it's Chairman and in the middle of an election.)
The real damage has already been done within Lord Darzi's report and recommendations and the agenda is now being followed through by the PCT. The financial horror story of Kings Mill will haunt Newark Hospital and whoever is MP will be unable to stop what we all fear unless we work together and reverse it. However, when the real national figures are revealed and we begin to understand we have a decade of austerity to face, then we will truly appreciate the scale of our task.
Having Dr Campbell as our Chair is definitely not something that diminishes our campaign, especially as he works for the PCT in question. Without him the people of Newark would have been without positive representation as previous attempts to persuade Mr Mercer to back us fell on deaf ears. As FightForNewark says Mr Mercer was compelled to turn up to Monday's protest and we are grateful to him for doing so. However we were disappointed that he refused to link arms with his constituents and have so far been unable to find out why he took this decision. I presume we will not receive an answer until Friday.
As the campaign to save Newark Hospital isnt a political thing, I dont understand why Mr Mercer would refuse to link arms with his consituents. Why did he opt to walk down the line of people outside the hospital instead. That looked like electioneering to me! I would have had more respect for the man if he had held hands with us.
I heard with my own ears Mr Mercer saying to two elderly people that they didn't need to worry, the new MIU would be no different in the services offered by A&E. I know we expect a degree of dissembling from politicians, but an outright lie?!?!? I was so stunned I couldn't speak but I wish now I'd challenged him on this. So, I will NOT be voting for Mercer, who is a proven liar. Thanks, Mr Mercer, for making it so clear to me where my loyalties should lie.
Although this isnt about politics but saving our hospital I have to agree with PravdaJack. For what its worth I am no longer able to support Mr Mercer and I wont be giving him my vote either simply because of the way he has dealt with this issue.
AHA! Liverpoolnewark aka Patrick Mercer's election agent? I wondered why you were so pro Mercer. Now you have come out of the woodwork A true Blue Now I am a card carrying member of UKIP so I have no interest in tory or labour but I will vote for the man who will stand up for Newark
Fight I won't be voting , the choice between Brown the most insidious, loathsome and pathetic and UNELECTED PM we ever had and two Blair parodies disgusts me .
And Fight I have praised your campaign and I praise anyone who is helping to stop the PCT and SFHT .
I believe Mr Mercer has been a positive force , maybe I will be proved wrong .
But to vote Labour or trust Labour after the last 13 years is too much to stomach . Oh the Labour Party and the glorious utopia they have created over the last 13 years . the feral chavs , the hypocritical, senior Labour politicians , the UNELECTED Mr Brown , the mandate for mediocrity , the mrsa filled hospitals , the murder of Dr Kelly , the unkown number of immigrants , the mass growth in government employees , the Reduction in school standards , destruction of the economy, the cash for Lordships,the binge drinking , increase in violence , making the police a politically correct bunch of clowns , surveillance society ,knife crime , Iraq war , biggest increase in wealth gap between rich and poor ever seen , Brown admitting in commons to lying about Defence Budget, Gurkhas , Id cards , Price of Petrol , Sleaze , Mandelson twice had to resign , Formula one scandal , Peter Foster , Alistair Campbell the devil incarnate spin doctor , David Blunkett illegal immigrant scandal , Jo Moore " a good day to bury bad news ' on 9/11 . A Prime Minister who acts like a petulant three year old ! The disgraceful treatment of our Armed Forces . etc etc etc What a wonderful Labour world !
I too was conned and did vote for Bliar two elections ago so I'm no Tory .
Liverpool I agreewith you about the Labour Party. I voted for them in 1997 on one issue only and that was to ban foxhunting They finally got around to it in their second term of office. The only thing I am interested in is to stop the downgrading of Newark Hospital. The people of this town and surrounding area deserve better after years of neglect by the Labour controlled County Council when all the the resources were ploughed into the Western side. The response from the committee at County Hall about the review was they criticised the review but in a muted way. The district council supported the M.I.U 7am to midnight then changed their minds due to the forceful argument of David Payne Conservative Councillor.
By fightfornewark
Well done everyone. Patrick Mercer had no option but to turn up. If he hadn't it would have been his death knell. It still could be as he has used it for electioneering purposes not because he supports the campaign
Report abuse