Rugby Labour were back out in Rugby town centre on Saturday 10th December. As well as collecting more signatures in opposition to the closure of Birch Ward, we were highlighting the issues of the upcoming NHS reforms being proposed by the coalition government.

These changes were not in either the Conservative or Liberal Democrat 2010 manifestos. In fact, both parties claimed to oppose ‘top down reorganisation’ of the NHS, and yet are now running full steam ahead with massive reforms – even before the legislation has been passed. The costs of the reorganisation will run into billions of pounds, which is coming from the overall NHS budget and there is no real evidence that they will result in savings.

The NHS is under threat nationally at the same time as closures are hitting our local hospital.

We now have nearly 1,500 names on the petition, and if you want to add yours, please sign the online version here: Protect St Cross Hospital