Paul Rowen asks for common sense over Rochdale Infirmary

Date published: 10/05/2006

Rochdale MP, Paul Rowen, has made a passionate plea to Labour Health Minister, Caroline Flint MP. The speech came during a debate on NHS Maternity Services. The Westminster debate was secured by Conservative MP, Sir Nicholas Winterton, a life-long friend of Sir Cyril Smith MBE.

Paul spoke highly of the campaign to save maternity child care and obstetric services at Rochdale infirmary. Paul told MP's "The proposals do not make economic sense. The unit at Rochdale infirmary is purpose-built and was opened in January 2001. By contrast to at least one of the strategic health authority's preferred options, no new investment will be needed to keep the unit open. It is very popular. The number of deliveries at the unit has risen since it opened from 1,776 to 2,270 last year. It is the only one of the four hospitals in the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to have admissions rising year on year. The background against which that is happening is one in which the population of Rochdale is set to rise by 6.7 per cent. by 2028, whereas that of the other towns in the area, such as Oldham and Bury, is set to fall...

"...When the consultation finishes on Friday, I hope that there will be another look at the proposals, that some common sense will be applied and that there will be a move to ensure that a maternity service is retained in that part of the conurbation of Greater Manchester."

Speaking after the debate Paul said, "The debate was highly critical of Labour's running of the NHS, there was a procession of MP's from all parties who all told stories of hospitals and NHS trusts in crisis across the country. I know that many MP's are disgusted at some of the horror stories being told at the meeting. We hear sound-bite after sound-bite about 'record investment in the NHS' and the NHS having 'its best year ever' -  this is against the backdrop of potential cuts in vital services at Rochdale Infirmary and record redundancies. I hope that that locally NHS bosses will listen to the thousands of voices. Voices that say that we will simply not accept ANY cuts to our services.

"I will continue to push hard and use any opportunity to fight for a common sense decision for Rochdale. We have shown that we will not be dictated to, thousands have taken part in the consultations, joined in by signing petitions or filled in my health surveys and I thank all of them.  Common sense should now prevail!"