Supporting local community hospitals

5.16.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 18th Jun 2005

Cllr Duncan Hames supporting local families in Melksham marching against cuts to local community hospitals.

Local Liberal Democrats joined over 500 Melksham residents marching to show their support for our community hospitals on Saturday.

Lib Dem spokesman Cllr Duncan Hames joined local councillors Terri Welch and Malcolm Rosier on the march which had been organised by the local branch of the public services trade union Unison.

"Almost every announcement the local health trust makes about our community hospitals has been a cut." observes Cllr Hames.

"The messages from everyone out on the streets today is that this must stop."

"I'm willing to listen to plans for changes in our local health services, but as I have said to the PCT's Chief Executive, those changes must be about improving local services - not just reducing costs. Talk of a new multi-community hospital near Melksham is a welcome part of those discussions, but at the moment that is all it is - just a floated suggestion. Local people deserve to see new services built and operational before any more existing services are lost." he concluded.