Protestors take hospital fight to the streets (From Wirral Globe)

Protestors take hospital fight to the streets

10:07am Monday 1st October 2012 in News By Stephanie Cureton

CAMPAIGNERS protesting against plans to take vital vascular surgery away from Wirral took their fight to the streets at the weekend.

The demonstrators organised a march to Arrowe Park Hospital to voice their anger over health bosses’ decision to move certain complex operations to the Countess of Chester.

The controversial shake-up to the borough’s vascular services, which was approved in July, was fiercely criticised by some consultants and trade unionists.

However NHS Wirral maintained that the changes were necessary to improve patient outcomes.

But Saturday’s march saw campaigners of all ages turn out to object to the decision, with speakers including Wirral TUC secretary Alec McFadden and Unite head of health Rachel Maskell.

And there are now plans to organise more protests as the campaign gathers pace.

Mr McFadden said: “It was great that, despite the awful weather we had been having, people still came out to support us. We had hospital staff marching with us as well as people who had undergone vascular surgery at Arrowe Park.

“We actually marched into the hospital grounds and it was fantastic to see patients and staff knocking on the windows and waving as well as drivers beeping as they went past.

“There will definitely be more marches going ahead to continue our fight and we also want to get local councillors and MPs on board next time.”