CARES
Coalition Against
Removal of kids Emergency
& other Services
A small part of the crowds that gathered on the day of the Southport protest march
Update - Thursday, 29 November 2007
http://www.cares.ukhome.net/index.htm
Southport
said “NO” to cuts in health services back in 2003 we still say “NO” today in
2007
The Southport campaign to regain lost health services continues.
Our campaign started several years ago when the NHS Trust decided to transfer
our vital services for children and pregnant women to Ormskirk. This
unbelievable decision was we believe totally deplorable, highly dangerous to the
patients involved and distressing to families in general. Southport is a large
town built on the holiday industry that urgently needs these essential hospital
services for visitors as well as the residents herein.
To date, CARES have received 18,532 names on petitions which were presented to
bosses from the NHS following a massive protest march (Sunday 17th August 03) at
Southport Hospital.
http://www.cares.ukhome.net/petitioncount.htm
An estimated four thousand protesters took part in this historical march to show
the Trust just how strong public revulsion was against these highly unpopular
and despotic changes. Our Libdem MP John Pugh however chose to go on his
holidays when the march took place. The petitions were presented to number 10
Downing Street by CARES on Thursday 19th February 2004.
http://www.cares.ukhome.net/march_pictures.htm
CARES also organised a protest march in Formby on 11th Oct. 2003
http://www.cares.ukhome.net/formby_demo.htm
CARES Formby protest march
One year later more than 600 families took the opportunity to sign and place
windmills within the grounds of Christ Church to support the CARES campaign to
return children’s emergency services back to Southport on the anniversary of the
public march against the closures.
CARES 'Wind of Change' protest
John Price (Ambulance Technician), Terry Durance, Pat Regan and his son Kyle
marched from Southport Hospital to the Town Hall carrying a large protest banner
in recognition of the route followed by 4,000 people in the previous year.
http://www.cares.ukhome.net/wind_of_change.htm
After the initial protest march of August 03, which saw the town united for one
aim, disintegration started to creep in. Meetings were held with TV crews by
‘some’ CARES members without telling the others. Some members even held hospital
interviews with TV crews present without consulting the whole group. Some of the
group were supportive of a Minor Injuries Unit and others were not. A divide had
occurred and the members who were true to the original objective of the
campaign, i.e. full restoration of services, were sadly forced to take action as
the other members of the group were diluting the main aims that CARES was
created to follow.
Subsequent to this unfortunate turn of events CARES democratically voted to
expel those members (including Libdem MP John Pugh), and substitutes, who were
clearly 'not' acting in the best interests of CARES original mandate, which was
decided by the residents of Southport. This decision was certainly not taken lightly but the Steering Group
had no other alternative available. The campaign had to be protected from
unscheduled and undecided revision by persons seeking to compromise our position
with the NHS Trust and other powers that be. We had a duty to take action for
the children’s sake!
Following this understandably controversial action CARES members were roundly
attacked in the local press by John Pugh MP. He unbelievably brought the private
religious beliefs of one of our team of volunteers into the situation, even
though this had absolutely nothing to do with the hospital campaign.
http://www.cares.ukhome.net/pugh.htm
http://www.cares.ukhome.net/expulsion_letter.htm
His personal assistant, Tony Dawson, also attacked CARES members over a lengthy
period under the guise of ‘Tonio’ on a popular Southport chatroom forum. CARES
members asked Mr Pugh to halt this situation but nothing was done. Even Libdem
leader Charles Kennedy was informed yet he did nothing to stop the abuse,
although he did promise to tell Mr Pugh of CARES concerns. Finally Mr Dawson was
banned (according to the press in Oldham, an area where he stood for election)
by his ISP from the chatroom. One of our members later had a suspected
miscarriage which she claims was partially due to the gratuitous stress of the
ongoing situation created by the Libdems. The Oldham Labour group later alleged
Mr Dawson posted “1580” abusive messages against anyone who challenged his
childish tirades on the chatroom.
The local Southport Party and others reported on this disgusting situation:
http://www.thesouthportparty.co.uk/text-Elections%202005.htm
More abuse followed with unfriendly Libdem activists creating havoc at CARES
meetings following the expulsion of John Pugh MP. One activist, Simon Shaw (who
is now a Birkdale Libdem councillor) was expelled from a CARES meeting after
persistently shouting at both the audience and committee.
http://www.cares.ukhome.net/trinity24thsept.htm
Since this deplorable time CARES have attended numerous health concern meetings
with various officials, as is reported on our website.
On Friday 12th January 2007 9.30am CARES met with Sefton Primary Care Trust
(PCT) Chief Executive, Leigh Griffin.
Please see this link for details:
http://www.cares.ukhome.net/agenda_12_jan_07.htm
CARES representatives asked Mr Griffin numerous questions including the
following:
“What is planned for the future in Southport? Bootle and Liverpool are well
catered for, but as yet we in Southport (not North Sefton) have nothing other
than our own doctors. Our visitors’ doctors may be 200 miles away, so
unavailable to them. Many come on public transport so do not have a car to their
disposal. This also applies to many of the elderly and those on low incomes.
What provision is to be made for these?”
Mr Griffin responded by saying he would like to ensure that parents have a clear
pathway of care. He went on to say that he sees a potential need for some form
of 'Enhanced healthcare in Southport for children' and also wished to raise the
levels of communication with the public. Mr Griffin believes that for children
in Southport there may be a need for 'some form of local service provision
greater than is currently available', albeit short of an A&E department.
However, on the 11th July 07 John Pugh MP was quoted in the local press over
issues that CARES had clarified six months earlier.
We reiterate for clarification. The fact remains that the PCT had, six months
ago, told CARES that greater provision and “some form of enhanced healthcare in
Southport for children” was needed.
CARES fairly reported this news on their website and forwarded this information
to the local media, including Dune FM Radio. Later the CARES Co-chairperson Cath
Regan was interviewed about this vital issue on that radio station and the show
was publicly broadcast.
Therefore, this exciting news was well-established and publicly available by
January 2007 – over six months 'before'
John Pugh stated virtually the very same thing in the press as if it was
something new!
http://www.cares.ukhome.net/pughspin07.htm
Why did it taken our MP John Pugh so long to catch up with the positive PCT
response gained in the CARES Jan. 2007 meeting, subsequent to four years of hard
campaigning by us and other concerned residents?
The important proposed meeting with the health authorities over our lost
services is due any day and John Pugh has seen fit for some odd reason to
undertake and conclude a heath survey asking if recipients are contented with
the local health service situation.
The Southport Party (TSP) performed such a task years ago.
MP John Pugh - is perhaps seeking to reinvent the wheel and going over old ground. Health surveys, like this one above by TSP, appeared several years back indicating that residents were almost unanimously unhappy with the NHS cuts.
Again, this move rather seems to be a case of our MP seeking to turn back the clock.
Southport Visiter report:
Champion report:
http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=6264
Is John Pugh so out of touch with his constituents that he actually needs to ask
such absurd questions via costly surveys or is this simply political spin to
perhaps gain desperately needed political status ‘before’ the proposed meeting
with the health authorities?
How stupid does Mr Pugh think Southport’s residents really are?
After the famous CARES march in 2003 of four thousand protesters, and nearly
20,000 names on petitions going to number 10, why does this MP now have to ask
residents it we still want their services back? Why would they want anything
‘less’ - is he joking?
Where has this politician actually been for the last four years whilst his
constituents have been campaigning so hard and whilst his fellow Libdem
activists have been working in quite the opposite direction ‘against’ these good
people?
Are we witnessing perhaps more transparent evidence of Libdem ‘spin’ to get in
on the latest action, just in case the health authorities finally put something
positive on the table worth having this time? Besides, how
far away is that next ‘election’?
Southport wants its services back and ‘nothing’ has changed since they were
initially taken away.
If our MP would have possessed the insight to ask CARES (the original campaign
organisation) he could have saved a great deal of time, effort and expense on
his pointless latest survey.
We don’t want useless surveys, political – point scoring and hollow words
based on futile lip-service with official hype to our valid concerns - we want
genuine, positive action now from all key-decision makers!
NB: A similar article to the above is also displayed on NHS Exposed website. Thanks go to Dr Rita Pal for it's inclusion.
Surf this link for further info:
http://www.nhsexposed.com/patients/supportgroups/southport_cares_2.shtml