oh so familiar . . .

[steveL]

Reading through this story I found myself experiencing a 'deja vu' moment. I hope the people of North Yorkshire are familiar with the Hartlepool story which seems to be being used as a template for their own plight.

AN in-depth Government review of the children's services row engulfing one of the region's major hospitals has moved a step closer.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has launched the process that could see controversial plans to downgrade the paediatric and maternity service at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital come under intense, top-level scrutiny.

Mr Hunt has told the Independent Reconfiguration Panel to carry out an initial review of the proposals - which would see an end to consultant-led children's services at the hospital which serves a huge swathe of rural North Yorkshire.

And he has ordered the panel to report back to him by no later than February 22 with advice on whether the changes should be the subject of a full review.

The move follows a decision by North Yorkshire County Council's scrutiny of health committee in December to refer the issue to Mr Hunt.

Committee chairman Jim Clark said: "This is very good news.

"If a full review is ordered, as I very much hope it will be, there will be an opportunity for the people of North Yorkshire, through the scrutiny of health committee, to present their very deep concerns about these proposals directly to those with the ultimate responsibility for deciding what should happen."

[Inspector Knacker]

There is a differrence, their representatives were up for, and willing to fight. Our  'representatives' meanwwhile.......... well you know the rest.

[fred c]

It`s not only North Yorkshire that are protesting at the closure of the Hospital in Northallerton.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2268948/Hundreds-family-doctors-fight-plan-axe-A-amp-E-department.html

Protests like these just goes to show what a bunch of "Merchant Bankers" we have looking after the Health Policy in Hartlepool, or shold that be..... Not looking after the Health policy of Hartlepool.