Campaigners angered by Infirmary cuts

Councillor Jean Ashworth

Outraged residents and community leaders met at Rochdale Town Hall to discuss cuts to Rochdale Infirmary.

More than 300 people attended the meeting organised by Friends of Our Hospital, a pressure group fighting the downgrading of the Infirmary.

The Pennine Acute Trust said cuts to children’s and maternity care, emergency services and overnight surgery will be introduced a year earlier than planned.

The changes were announced in 2007 as part of the Healthy Futures programme, but will now be introduced in April 2011 because of staff shortages.

“A lot of people were angry,” said Councillor Jean Ashworth. “We have got no confidence in the management of the Pennine Acute.”

She added: “We can only pray for a miracle.”

The meeting was attended by representatives from Pennine Acute, who say that 85% of patients who currently attend the Infirmary will continue to after the changes are made.

Dr Anton Sinniah, consultant physician and clinical director of unscheduled care for Rochdale Infirmary, said: “Patients safety is the Trust’s highest priority.”

But campaigners say that no one at the meeting was in support of the move.

“There has been no consultation with the public”, said Councillor Ashworth. “We had GPs stand up last night who said it is just not feasible what they are doing.”

She added: “A lot of people were angry, but the anger was really fear of what was happening.”

Ms Ashworth is planning the group’s next move and says they will take the issue all the way to Parliament if they have to.

She said: “We cannot let it rest here. We have got to carry on.”