Wasn't sure where else to share this, so in here seemed appropriate - please move the thread if it would be better suited elsewhere.
It is currently planned to downgrade the maternity unit at Stafford Hospital to a midwife led unit in January 2015, which means that the majority of local mums (perhaps ¾) will have to travel to UHNS Stoke or New Cross Wolverhampton to give birth. The special care baby unit will also go, and in March the paediatric service will be reduced to a daytime assessment unit without a paediatrician and there will be no children's ward at all in Stafford. The M6 & A34 are often heaving, and accidents a common occurrence unfortunately. Just yesterday the M6 was closed due to an accident, and the A34 northbound was jam-packed.
NCT Stafford, Chase and District are petitioning to halt the downgrade of services at Stafford Hospital, and are urging for other options to be considered.
Please consider signing and sharing the petition, local families really need your help and support.
www.change.org/p/keep-maternity-paediatrics-in-stafford