Campaign group’s bid to save maternity at Fairfield

A campaign group fighting for the maternity unit at Fairfield Hospital to stay open, has launched an e.Petition in a bid to have the proposals reviewed.

The Fairfield Baby Lifeline Society has set up the online petition to express their anger to the government and once again try to save the services, which are earmarked for closure in March next year.

The group need 100,000 signatures on the petition for the issue to be raised in the House of Lords.

The closure is part of the Making it Better Programme which saw inpatient maternity services removed from the Rochdale Infirmary in June this year.

The group have been fighting to save services since 2004 when the plans were first proposed. Since then they have held public meetings, protest marches and got 40,000 signatures on a paper petition.

Now they are urging people to sign their online petition.
The petition reads:
‘Andrew Lansley halted the closures against the Maternity, Neonatal and Paediatric Units at Fairfield General Hospital, Bury in June 2010 as he agreed that a 9th Unit was needed under the Making it Better Proposals. The decision to close these services was given the go ahead in December 2010. After new figures have been received (sent to AL 01.08.11) we want him to re-look at the decision and keep services at our hospital.’
Sharon Entwistle from the group, said: “If we can get 100,000 signatures on the e.Petition we can have the issue raised in the House of Commons, it is a massive undertaking, a really huge thing to do but we are prepared to try and have a go.

“We are emailing and tweeting like mad.”

The petition was launched just a week ago and so far has 1,476 signatures.

Mrs Entwistle, said: “Initially it was quiet at first, but we are getting the message out there and in the last 24 hours it has gone up by 700.

“We want people to get on, sign it, confirm it – it doesn’t ass your name until you have confirmed it – and share it.

“Send it to everyone you can possibly think of.

“This is something everyone can do.”

The petition closes on 10 November and Mrs Entwistle remains optimistic that they can reach the 100,000 target.

She said: “We have to remain optimistic, I never say never.”

To sign the petition visit: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/5140
A petition regarding the future of services at the Rochdale Infirmary has been extended until September, to sign the petition, visit: http://democracy.rochdale.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=34