Traitors

[Freak]

Headlines in our local paper tonight

"TRAITORS - They've decided to close Battledown Childrens Ward - your protests and a 24,000 name petition mean nothing."

The final death knell for the Battledown Childrens Ward in Cheltenham sounded last night. Bosses of the county's three Primary Care Trusts recommended a pakage of proposals to shift childrens in-patient care to Gloucester. Campaigners were crestfallen as their worst case scenario came true after a year long battle to keep the ward open.
They sat in stunned silence as the medical professionals rode roughshod over there hopes of keeping the unit open. As it was not a public meeting, campainers were unable to have their say.
Cheltenham General Hospital will now be stripped of its 24hr in-patient childrens ward as well as its intensive and high dependency care for newborn babies.

How can a place the size of Cheltenham not have a 24hr childrens unit? not to mention the outlying villages within the catchment area. It will mean some families now having in excess of a 40 mile round trip to visit their poorly children.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Shep]

It dosn't help much, but it's the same all over, 'rationalisation.'
When Blair & co were elected, I thought that at least the NHS would get sorted out. Wrong.

I wonder about these 'Medical professionals,' how many of them have medical qualifications? The NHS seems to be top heavy with administrators. (Had I better take cover?)

Off at a tangent, we raised a big chunk of money for an appeal within a local NHS trust, but the administrators arn't interested in coming to get the cheque, despite the promise of publicity for the cause.

I seem to remember Battledown was under threat in the late 70s, when then wife went there for a scan. I suppose they'll now have to go to Gloucester, Swindon and fcuk knows where else.

Disgusted from Berkshire. :mad: