Thousands join 'Save our St Helier' march - Burstow

5.33.02pm GMT Mon 27th Nov 2006

Paul Burstow MP and Tom Brake MP, were joined by thousands of concerned staff and local residents in a march to protest against cuts at St Helier hospital.

The organisers estimate that around two and a half thousand people joined the MPs as they marched from Rosehill recreation ground to St Helier open space. The large crowd battling heavy rain, wind and cold, waved placards with slogans such as 'Hands off our Hospital Hewitt' and 'No Cuts, No Closures' as they made their way up the hill to St Helier. The protest brought traffic on Rosehill to a standstill as police closed the road.

The two MPs, together with local and national union representatives and Sean Brennan, leader of Sutton Council, called on the crowd to make their voices heard to hospital managers and promised to continue their fight to keep the Hospital open.

Mr Burstow and Mr Brake are pushing for a parliamentary debate on the future of the hospital. They also plan to hold a local Health Forum in early 2007 to allow local people to express their opinions about the future of health service delivery in the borough.

Speaking after the march, Paul Burstow MP said:

"The fact that so many people turned out in today's foul weather is testament to the strength of feeling among local people."

"Our presence here in such large numbers has sent a message to Patricia Hewitt and London NHS bosses - that local people will not stand by while they close hospital beds and cut jobs."

Tom Brake MP added:

"This march is not the end of our campaign - it is simply the beginning."

"We are launching a website: www.saveoursthelier.org.uk, and we will continue to collect signatures on our petition to the government."

"Local people have made it very clear that they will fight any cuts or closures at our local hospital. We stand united: St Helier must not shut."