3,000-plus add names to petition

A petition against the changes to accident and emergency cover at Newark has topped 3,000 signatures.

Newark town councillor Mr Laurence Goff launched the petition on Wednesday of last week and has been collecting signatures outside the Town Hall.

The petition originally called for Newark’s A & E to be saved.

It says: “This petition represents the will of the people and we therefore require our MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, to act upon it.”

Mr Mercer said he would present Mr Goff’s petition to the Department of Health but he could not personally support it in the way that it was worded to “save the A & E department.”

Newark’s casualty is set to be changed to a minor injuries unit plus (MIU+) which health bosses say better reflects the services offered.

Mr Goff has since changed the petition to: “Do not downgrade Newark A & E.”

Those signing on Wednesday were angered by the plans put forward by NHS Nottinghamshire County for Newark Hospital.

Mrs Heather Hickman (72) of Wilfred Avenue, Balderton, said if more people were to be treated at other hospitals then better public transport was needed. She said there should be direct buses from Newark to all the surrounding hospitals.

She was particularly concerned about the proposals for heart attack and strokes and felt people were going to die as a result of going to specialist centres.

Mr Ray Howell (73) of Harewood Avenue, Newark, had a heart attack three years ago and was cared for at Newark Hospital. He said the staff were brilliant and all deserved medals.

His wife, Mrs Mavis Howell (73) needs a scan every month at King’s Mill to monitor an eye condition, age-related macular degeneration. The equipment is not available at Newark.

The couple drive there but say they have to leave Newark at 12.30pm for a 2.15pm appointment as they need extra time to find a parking space. Mrs Howell said the hospital was brilliant but would prefer to be treated at Newark.

Other petitions have also been set up, including one in the Yorke One Foodstore on Yorke Drive.

Mr Clive Owen, of Cottage Close, Balderton, has set up an e-petition on the 10 Downing Street website.

It says: “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure that the Accident and Emergency service at Newark Hospital is maintained at its current level and not downgraded.”

The petition can be signed at
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Newarkhospital