Vigil for Stafford Hospital draws 1,000 people

A total of 600 lanterns were lit by Save Stafford Hospital campaigners at the Night of Light event on Saturday, creating a visual demonstration of the action group's logo of a heart held by two hands on a nearby hill.

Lanterns marking the hands were held by members of the public while red lanterns, illustrating the heart, were held by staff.

It was the latest display of people power since Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Cannock and Stafford Hospitals, was placed in the control of special administrators.

They will publish plans for its future in June, but the shake-up could see acute services from the two sites taken over by neighbouring hospitals such as New Cross in Wolverhampton and University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent.

The event in Cannock Road, near Brocton, attracted hundreds of families and included entertainment from a variety of bands, children's activities such as rock climbing and face-painting, and a stall selling merchandise in support of Save Stafford Hospital.

The Bishop of Stafford Reverend Geoff Annas addressed the crowd, saying he attended the event to support the people in what the church considers to be a 'very concerning matter'.

"Community events like this are really important – the march a few weeks ago was just amazing," said Rev Annas, of Barlaston.

"They make a real statement about how much people care about their hospitals in this area. It's great to see so many people come together.

"Saving Stafford's acute services is very important indeed, not least because of how stretched the other hospitals in the area are.

"I visited someone at North Staffs just this week and the staff there are really under a lot of pressure.

"It's ridiculous to think they can absorb people who use services at Stafford and Cannock.

"We have a duty to continue to stand up for the 270,000 people who are served by Cannock and Stafford Hospitals." One of the organisers of the event and co-founder of Save Stafford Hospital, Cheryl Porter, said she was thrilled by the number of people who turned up for the event.

"I'm shocked we've had so many people turn up because of the way the weather's been," said Mrs Porter at the event.

"This is a night of fun protest to show our determination to keep Stafford's acute services. The aim of this evening is really just to get the community together, as everyone wanted another event after the march."

Stafford mother-of-two and singer Clare Palmer performed the group's protest song 50,000 People Can't Be Wrong twice on the evening.

The Support Stafford Hospital group is backing the song and hoping to get the song into the charts.

Proceeds from sales of the song will be donated to the children's ward at Stafford Hospital. Another band to perform on the evening was Leroy Jenkins and The Mythical 400 – headed up by frontman Mark Saville, an A&E nurse from Stafford Hospital.

"I speak on behalf of all the doctors and nurses at Stafford when I say this support from the public has been unbelievable," said the 53-year-old from Rickerscote.

"It's incredibly emotional for all of us. The pressure the staff are under really wears us down, but the support from the community has improved our morale no end."

It comes after 50,000 people joined a protest march calling for services to be retained at Stafford.

Mid Staffs became the first foundation trust in the country to be placed in special administration when Hugo Mascie-Taylor and Alan Bloom were appointed.

Dr Mascie-Taylor and Mr Bloom will produce a report which will go out for public consultation, set to start in the week beginning June 24, before being considered by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

He will make a final ruling. Dr Mascie-Taylor has vowed that he and Mr Bloom will not be bound by a report by health watchdog Monitor, which proposes the £70 million downgrade of services at Stafford and Cannock Chase hospitals.

People of all ages descended on Stafford on April 20 this year for the rally in the town.

The crowds of protesters walked from Market Square all the way up to the hospital site in Weston Road.

The trust needed a £20 million government bailout last year and would require another £20m this year.

An inquiry by Robert Francis QC into hundreds of 'excess' deaths at the hospital between 2005 and 2009 concluded in February this year that there had been failure at every level of the health service.