Heywood councillor cynical about maternity decision

Date published: 08/12/2006

Heywood Councillor Colin Lambert reacting to the news that maternity services are to go from Fairfield Hospital as well as Rochdale Infirmary said he is "gutted".

He added that after three years of fighting to save maternity children's services and special baby care at Fairfield he is totally gutted that not only Fairfield but the entire community north of the M60 has lost out in the reconfiguration on hospital services.

Councillor Lambert also revealed his cynicism at the decision saying: "There are those who have said from the outset that the consultation was a farce and just a sham, I wanted not to believe them, but after today, I have to believe that the consultation may just have been a juicy carrot dangled in front of the noses of a small number of nodding donkeys.

"I congratulate the communities which have retained their hospital services, but I cannot see the clinical logic of leaving the Heywood, Rochdale, Bury and Rossendale communities without vital services.

"I have questioned if I could have done anymore, but I don't see what else any of us could have done. It would appear that even though the case for retaining services in our community was strong, it has been ignored.

"I need time now to talk to others and consider our options for taking the matter further. But we will not go away.

"The decision and our children's futures are too important."