MP squares up to battle for vital services in Rochdale!

Rochdale MP - Paul Rowen has pledged to "fight tooth and nail" to maintain Maternity and Child Care Services in Rochdale. Paul has responded following a review of NHS services across the region - a review that could see the end of children's in-patient, maternity and neo-natal services at Rochdale Infirmary.

This a complete reversal of the decision that was made last year by the Strategic Health Authority - that Rochdale would be one of the 8 Childcare Centres serving Greater Manchester.

Paul Rowen MP said, "I understand that the proposals have only been approved subject to a detailed analysis as to why it should be those units and not others. Rochdale has the fastest growing population in Greater Manchester as well being one of the most deprived. We have purpose-built new paediatric and maternity facilities at Rochdale Infirmary. I cannot for the life of me see why we spend money building new units at other hospitals just so Rochdale can lose it! I will meeting the Chief Executive of Rochdale Primary Care Trust - Trevor Purt next week to discuss what happens next. You be rest assured we fight any move to take child care and maternity services out of Rochdale."

This proposal seems all the more astonishing when you can consider that there was 12,000 births in Rochdale last year. Year on year this figures grows by up to 1,000 a year. Paul said, "The staff here in Rochdale have an excellent record, superb facilities and the demand for their services is growing. I will use every ounce of my energy to safeguard our vital services!"