Reaction to Trafford General proposals (From Messenger Newspapers)

Reaction to new health deal proposals for Trafford General

11:40am Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in News

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save services at Trafford General have renewed their call for any decisions on the hospital's future to be delayed until after a Greater Manchester-wide review of the NHS is completed.

Cllr Jo Harding, the campaign coordinator fro the Save Trafford General community group, spoke out after the board that oversees the new health deal for Trafford programme - the Trafford strategic programme board - gave an initial thuumbs-up to the controversial plans.

Major changes proposed for the hospital - the birthplace of the NHS - under the new health deal for Trafford include turning the A & E department into an urgent care centre, closing intensive care and the paediatric observation and assessment unit, and no longer carrying out acute surgery.

Health chiefs have also begun pre-consultation discussions on healthcare across Greater Manchester.

Urmston ward councillor Jo Harding said the future of Trafford General should not be considered in isolation.

She told Messenger: "Over the course of the next year a review of health services across Manchester will take place and we believe Trafford's future should be looked at as a part of a coordinated review of hospital services across Greater Manchester.

"As a member of the health scrutiny committee I will continue to raise these issues at the next Trafford meeting scheduled for January 9 and the joint Manchester health scrutiny on January 14.

"The Save Trafford General group will be in attendance at these meetings and will continue to challenge decisions being made that better suit clinicians and commissioners rather than the Trafford residents."

She added: "While we welcome the conditions that have been set regarding transport, Partington and mental health, it is clear these issues will not be rectified by April 2013 which is when the changes will be implemented."