Gordon Birtwistle & Burnley Liberal Democrats

Burnley and Padiham GPs have told local MP Gordon Birtwistle that they are overwhelmingly opposed to the closure of the Children’s ward at Burnley hospital.

And their views have been passed on to Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley who has been urged to step in to halt the closure.

Under guidance issued by the new Secretary of State after the election, Hospital Trusts must have the support of the local Council and local GPs to make such changes.

“It speaks volumes that not a single GP has written back to me to say they support the closure of the Children’s ward”, said Gordon.

“If there isn’t the support of GPs or the local council then the Secretary of State for Health needs to step  in and ensure the proper procedures he has set out are followed.”

“I really can’t see what the local health trusts are playing at.  Why are they pushing through changes which have such strong opposition from those professionals at the cutting edge of providing health care for local people?”

(UPDATE & EDIT – sometime after this was posted Gordon has received a letter from one GP supporting, in qualified terms, the closure of the Burnley Children’s ward.  The phrase “Not a single GP supports closure” has therefore been removed from the headline)

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