We will not give up the fight says Rochdale MP

Date published: 08/01/2007

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has said that "Rochdale will not give up the fight to save Child Care and Maternity Services at Rochdale Infirmary."  This is despite a call from Bury North Labour MP, David Chaytor who has said that "Rochdale should give up its fight".

Mr Rowen also claimed that Rochdale would "not be held to ransom",  he added: "The decision to close Maternity and Childcare at Rochdale Infirmary and Fairfield Hospital came as a direct result of the Labour Government’s policy – so for a Labour MP to tell us to give up the fight in Rochdale is quite frankly disgraceful.  I will be meeting with Mr Chaytor, but he hasn’t done himself any credit in this crucial issue.  He sent me a letter based on a personal conversation and leaked it to the press, the press knew of this letter before I did – that’s not the way an MP should behave from any party.  I agreed to work with Mr Chaytor to ask the Secretary of State for Health to call in and review the decision for both hospitals but at the end of the day the potential closure of services at both hospitals is a direct result of the Labour Government Policy, Tony Blair supports this and it is up to us to make representations."

Mr Rowen has also stepped up the campaign and is especially asking for a breakdown of the £40 million figure that Health Bosses claimed it would cost to keep Rochdale Infirmary open for Child Care and Maternity, and has also asked the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to look into this.

There will also be a good Rochdale contingent at a Parliamentary Lobby on 16 January where the 'All-Party Parliamentary Local Hospital’s Group' will meet.  Members from the Friends of Our Hospital will be able to use that opportunity to take their protest directly to the Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt MP.  Anyone who would like more information on this should contact Paul Rowen’s Office on 01706 712186. 

Mr Rowen has also been critical of the Joint PCT’s decision taken last Friday to rubber stamp the decision.  He said: "There are so many questions that need answering, this is hugely critical to this Borough and I feel they should have deferred the Rochdale decision.  I will continue to press though, and despite Mr Chaytor’s comments I am still prepared to work with him to ask the Secretary of state to review the decision on both hospitals. I will however continue to press the case for the Infirmary.  The report that went to the Joint PCts showed that Rochdale’s case is much stronger than Fairfield's once this nonsensical £40 million pound figure is removed."