Campaigners clash with NHS Trafford over 'biased' magazine (From Messenger Newspapers)

Campaigners clash with NHS Trafford over 'biased' magazine

12:00pm Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Kate Banks, Reporter

TWO health governors at Trafford General Hospital have slammed a health magazine, labeling it ‘biased’.

However, health chiefs at NHS Trafford, the Primary Care Trust which distributes Trafford Talks Health to hospitals, GP surgeries and dentists in the borough, have disputed the claims.

Matthew Finnegan and George Devlin, campaigners from the Save Trafford General Group who were elected Central Manchester Trust board last year, argue that latest issue of the publication fails to mention that decision to downgrade services at the hospital has been referred to the secretary of state and that nothing has been finalised.

They have labeled the article on page five as “biased, partial and inaccurate” and called for its immediate withdrawal.

However, health chiefs have disputed claims of bias.

Dr Nigel Guest, chief clinical officer for Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “At the time of going to print NHS Greater Manchester had approved the proposed changes to services at Trafford General Hospital, but notification of the referral to the Secretary of State for health had not been received.”

Peter Mount, chairman of Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “It’s important for patients to know that no changes to services at Trafford General Hospital have been made, and none will be made without the approval of the Secretary of State for Health. “

NHS Trafford will be abolished on March 31 and as such the issue in question will be the last of the quarterly magazine.