Express & Star

Stafford Hospital march: Year later and still fighting

It was a day that people in the town will never forget.

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On April 20 last year thousands of banner-waving campaigners hit the streets of Stafford to join the Support Stafford Hospital march.

They were all there for one reason only – to save their beloved hospital. It sent a message out to the country and the Government that they were not going to just sit back and watch as services were stripped away.

In the year since the march there have been significant changes at Stafford Hospital.

In December, trust special administrators said the overall trust was 'unsustainable' and that without changes Mid Staffordshire would face annual debts of more than £40 million by 2017.

Since then plans to dissolve the trust that runs the hospital have been approved, the operating hours of A&E have been permanently reduced to 14 and officials have announced plans to cut the number of births by half and no longer treat very sick children no longer treated at the Weston Road site.

Lead campaigner from the Support Stafford Hospital group, Cheryl Porter, today said although the march was a huge success, she said people in the town still don't feel they are being listened to.

"I can't believe it has been a year since the march," she said. "It's gone by that quick.

Still not listening, says Cheryl Porter

"We want all services to be provided at our hospital but it doesn't look like they will be." She added: "There is still a battle going on. We are still fighting."

Up to 50,000 people descended on Stafford to take part in the march and show a united front against plans to downgrade the town's hospital 12 months ago.

Today Stafford's MP Jeremy Lefroy said: "When the trust special administrators started their work running the hospital and came up with their report for consultation in July, it said there should be acute services and an A&E. I attribute that to the march."

He added: "I would like to see a return to full time A&E."

The march came after last year's Francis Report highlighted the 'appalling and unnecessary suffering of hundreds of people', following a lengthy public inquiry chaired by Robert Francis QC.

Support Stafford Hospital will be releasing balloons at the hospital today at midday to mark the one year anniversary of the march.

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