16/07/06 - Campaigners Across the Midlands Join Together

Patients and hospital staff from across the Midlands including Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Coventry gathered outside City Hospital in Birmingham on Saturday 15th July. Campaigners said the march was a statement of intent.

720 Jobs are at risk in Worcestershire as well as family services at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, Up to 1,000 jobs could go in Staffordshire, and 800 posts are to go at City Hospital. The protestors marched to Centenary Square, urging the government to stop the job and service cuts an and scrap the current NHS debt estimated to be at least £5 hundred million.

The rally was thought to be one of the most significant events since the series of job losses were announced. In Redditch and surrounding areas, the campaigners want services such as maternity, paediatrics and gynaecology to stay at the Alexandra Hospital.

Neal Stote, from the Save Alex Campaign said

"hundreds of people turned out to have their voices heard, protest groups like Save The Alex are fighting similar cuts across country and there are now calls for the trade union movement to call for a national demonstration against NHS cuts, I fully support this call for a national demonstration" "If the planned cuts go ahead at the Alexandra Hospital it will leave the whole of Worcestershire with just one place for expectant mum's to give birth, and we have been told the plans to reduce paediatric care to a 12 hour day service will have grave impact on the safety and viability of the A&E department at night"