‘People power’ bid to save health services

The people of Montgomeryshire are ready to fight a cross-border battle with the Shropshire Health Chiefs, and the General who is gathering the troops is a stay-at-home mum of three kids.

 

Fed up Helen Jervis, 32, has launched an on-line petition which has swooped up 1,500 signatures already this week as local people send a clear message to Shropshire not to move vital health services from Shrewsbury to Telford.

 

The March 14^th D-day is approaching for Shropshire to decide cost cutting measures and one proposal is to transfer the maternity unit, baby special care unit and children’s ward 14 miles up the road. It has caused outrage and Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies has called February public meetings for Welshpool and Newtown to protest the plans.

 

But it is the efforts of Helen which have caught the imagination of the people and she intends to lead the fight right up until the final day.

 

“I decided to set the petition it up as it is just madness to move it further away from us,” she said: “At the moment we have to travel 30 miles or more to Shrewsbury so Telford is just too far.

“Also I spent seven weeks in Shrewsbury Hospital having our first son because I had an extremely dangerous condition in pregnancy. My husband spent those weeks travelling up and down at all hours, four or more times a week. Shrewsbury was too far so Telford would be madness.

 

“I have had a lot of support from parents with some really tragic and heart wrenching tales that all against the move. Glyn Davies has joined the page on Facebook. It will be really damaging for this area as there is nothing in Mid Wales at all able to cope with these things.”

 

The petition can be signed by visiting http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/childrens-and-maternity/.

 

And Helen has sent out a rallying call for her fellow local residents:

“Let our voice be heard. Please sign the petition and tell your friends about it and attend the publice meetings. Show your support!”