Hospital campaign seeks royal backing (From The Northern Echo)

Hospital campaign seeks royal backing

8:00am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Northallerton News By Mark Foster

THE battle for the future of one of the region’s hospitals is gaining momentum as campaigners seek royal support.

Efforts are being made to get the monarchy involved in the fight to retain threatened children’s services at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Foreign Secretary William Hague, the MP for Richmondshire, will meet senior councillors tomorrow to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, plans for a rally and march one Saturday in late April or early May are expected to attract thousands of people.

Health chiefs are considering a recommendation that children’s services at the Friarage should be downgraded to outpatients only.

It would mean inpatients would have to be treated in Middlesbrough, leading to a knock-on effect for maternity services.

Campaigners against the move are trying to get the Countess of Wessex on their side. In 2007, the countess reopened the Friarage after a £21m redevelopment, which included the creation of a children’s unit and maternity unit.

The campaigners, who now have more than 2,800 members on their Facebook site, plan to ask her and the Duchess of Kent, who came from Hovingham, near Helmsley, for their support.

Mr Hague will meet the leaders of the Richmondshire and Hambleton district councils and North Yorkshire County Council.

Next week’s county council meeting will addressing an emergency motion on the issue.

It calls for “no stone to be left unturned” in the search for a solution that allows the Friarage’s services to be retained.

Permission has been given for the rally to be held at County Hall, in Northallerton, followed by a march through Northallerton to the hospital.

Richmondshire council leader John Blackie said: “It will be led by mums-to-be, followed by mums pushing buggies, followed by children, parents and grandparents.

All these would be affected by the proposals.

“The point will be to reinforce the very compelling message of just how important the Friarage is to us all.”

The rally and march are being co-ordinated through the Upper Wensleydale Community Office, in Hawes. To help, email uwco@btinternet.

com or call 01969-667400.