Infirmary hits the headlines at Lib Dem Conference

Date published: 25/09/2006

Downgrading of Emergency Services at Rochdale Infirmary hit the headlines again last week during a debate in Brighton on the "Crisis in the NHS".  The debate, during a special "emergency, topical debate’ featured many disgruntled MP’s and Councillors.  The biggest sympathy though was for Rochdale, in a speech broadcast live on BBC News 24 and Sky News, the town’s MP, Paul Rowen, told a packed conference hall that he was "proud of the fight that Rochdale put up" to try and stop Rochdale Infirmary being "downsized’.

Paul told the Conference: "The NHS is in crisis – there is no point trying to pretend otherwise; many delegates at this conference have approached me about the national media attention regarding the downgrading of emergency services at Rochdale Infirmary.  I have now written to the Parliamentary Commissioner asking for him to investigate whether the decision was politically motivated.  I have heard horror stories this week about the NHS the length and breadth of the country.  Yet, the Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt says that the NHS has had its "best ever year’ – utter nonsense.   I set a challenge today to the Health Secretary – come to Rochdale and ask the people whether they think the NHS has had it’s "best ever year’, come to Rochdale and ask the hard working staff at Rochdale Infirmary whether the NHS has had its "best ever year’."

Mr Rowen also questioned whether the consultation team in charge of the decision has listened or used their "common sense".  He told the conference: "Health provision should be delivered by need not greed, whether that be a greed for saving money or to save Labour marginal seats.  The Central and Falinge area of Rochdale has one of the highest mortality rates in the country, why they are downgrading our hospital is beyond me, beyond the thousands of people who have opposed any cuts to our services and beyond the residents of Rochdale.  The people of Rochdale are fighters though and we will not give up.  I am proud at the fight we put up in Rochdale and I want to pay a special tribute to the 'Friends of Our Hospital' who have been at the forefront of the campaign."