Express & Star

Stafford hospital campaigners to stand in elections

More than 20 hospital campaigners in Stafford will stand in the borough council local elections in May, it was announced today.

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The Support Stafford Hospital group has also revealed it is moving off the grounds of County Hospital on Saturday after camping at the site for more than six months.

The independent candidates join lead hospital campaigner Karen Howell who said she will run in the parliamentary elections in May and challenge Conservative MP Jeremy Lefroy.

Support Stafford Hospital lead campaigner Julian Porter said a list of candidates was currently being drawn up and which wards they will stand in.

He said: "We'll have 20 plus people standing as independent candidates.

"There are 26 wards in total but we won't stand in those where the current councillors have helped with our campaign.

"We plan to listen to the people in our wards and won't be tied to any political party. That's the problem with Parliament at the moment."

The campaign group was set up several years ago to fight controversial plans to downgrade Stafford Hospital, recently renamed County Hospital.

They set up a protest camp on the grounds of the hospital in July last year and have remained there through the snow, wind and rain.

Mr Porter said: "We are packing up on Saturday and will be moving off the site on that day.

"This is the next step for us.

"We need to get into our new shop unit in the town centre and start campaigning.

"We don't have phones and internet connection on the campsite.

"We've been at the campsite through the wind and rain. People down on the site have been brilliant throughout."

Some services have already moved from Stafford to Royal Stoke University Hospital, including consultant-led maternity.

Earlier this week work started on new critical care facilities at Royal Stoke.

Around £13.5 million is being spent on four new units and two theatres.

A new critical-care ward with 12 beds is also being built as part of the massive overhaul of health services in the county.

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