Labour group call for public led Infirmary campaign

Rochdale's Labour group are pushing for a public led campaign, supported by local politicians, in order to get the best possible health services for Rochdale residents.

Meanwhile, Rochdale MP Paul Rowen is calling on the Government to urgently review the decision to downgrade A&E services at Rochdale Infirmary.

Mr Rowen believes that services at the Infirmary are operating at full capacity. "It is clear from my meetings with staff that services are at breaking point and I am quite frankly appalled.

"I warned the Government when they made the decision to downgrade our A & E that it would lead to services across Greater Manchester being stretched so far that it would have a detrimental effect on patient care. Burnley has already been downgraded and we are seeing the knock on effects of this decision in Rochdale.

"I am calling for the Government, in the light of their crazy decision to downgrade services in Rochdale to urgently review their decision and not downgrade our hospital.”

Labour group leader, Councillor Colin Lambert, has backed the formation of a local campaign group and hopes that the local Tories and Lib Dems will come on board.

"The labour group will ensure that our local voice is heard at the highest level nationally and we will support a campaign to provide the best services possible for all residents across the borough," he said.

"The best campaign will be one which is not split on political lines, which unfortunately has happened in the past. A campaign led by the public, supported by all local politicians, has more strength than any individual political campaign."

Commenting on Councillor Lambert's call for a public campaign, Paul Rowen pointed out the existence of the 'Friends of our Hospital' group. “I am surprised at Councillor Lambert’s call as a successful, non-political group has existed for some time," he said. "It is called ‘Friends of our Hospital’ and has existed on a non-political basis for a number of years.

"The Friends of our Hospital has many active members and supporters from Rochdale including people like Father Arthur Nearey, who won the Rochdale ‘Man of the Year’ last year, councillors including Jean Ashworth, Ashley Dearnley and Jane Gartside, who play an active role.

"This pressure group has played a leading role in fighting for our health services in Rochdale and the fact they Colin Lambert doesn’t know about it shows him to be out of touch.”