More support for BFP hospital call

8:11pm Saturday 10th May 2008

MORE people voiced support today for the Bucks Free Press' bid to get prime minister Gordon Brown to order a review of changes at Wycombe Hospital.

We are calling for the changes at the hospital - particularly birthing services, which are massively delayed - to be looked at again.

And concerned residents in town today were all too happy to have their say on the matter.

Walter Pullan, 68, of Cressex Road, Booker, said: "I think it's a disgrace. As the town is expanding, bringing in new businesses, it's only right that we should have a fully functional hospital."

He added that his own daughters experienced complications when they gave birth at Wycombe. He thought if they had been forced to go to Stoke Mandeville, in Aylesbury, their experiences could have ended in tragedy.

He said: "They shouldn't be taking chances with people's lives."

Candice Liverpool, 35, of Queens Road, High Wycombe, said: "If you are having a complicated birth you need to get to the hospital quickly and have professionals deal with it.

"Lives could be lost."

Robert Dodds, 30, and wife Tracey, 33, of Downley are expecting a baby in just one week's time.

They were alarmed at the prospect of having to go to Stoke Mandeville - a centre were mums can choose to go - in the future, after the good care they have had at Wycombe Hospital.

Mr Dodds said: "They've been absolutely fantastic. If they asked me to take the baby to Mandeville, I wouldn't - we feel confident in Wycombe."

Four years ago, tens of thousands of readers opposed plans to remove the doctor led birthing unit from Wycombe.

Now, after the prime minister celebrated local newspaper campaigns last week, we are asking him to pay urgent attention to this one.

Online forms supporting the BFP's call for Mr Brown to order a review of changes at Wycombe Hospital have already started to come in.

And you can fill in the form on page five of this week's Bucks Free Press to add your voice to our campaign.

Simply send the forms to us, or click on the link below to complete an online version, and we will make sure they are delivered to 10 Downing Street.

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