Councillors "gagged" over baby care unit

Members of the council's Healthier and Safer Communities scrutiny commission met on Tuesday to give their views on plans to re-organise maternity services at the hospital.

But discussions were put back to October, and any recommendations from the Commission may not be made until December.

As councillors prepared to embark on a debate, the commission chairman, Councillor John Smith, said: "The council welcome the new investment proposals but are aware of the public concerns.

"At this point in time, the committee will not be acting in the best interests of the people of Bury if they make a comment. We will hold meetings in October dedicated to the issue and we will interview all the appropiate bodies and listen to all the evidence.

"When the people of Bury have spoken and the professionals of Bury have spoken, we will speak."

The statement outraged Councillor Denise Bigg who was told to hush up when she tried to speak on the issue.

She later told the Bury Times: "We have been told not to discuss the closure until October or we will be removed from the scrutiny committee and that is disgusting. I believe it is wrong not to fight to keep it open. That doesn't mean I cannot be impartial and scrutinise the facts."

The Conservative councillor, who represents Elton ward, added: "The Conservatives pushed for the issue to be discussed but it was then claimed we were wrong to demand it be put on the agenda and told not to talk about it. Our party will support the fight to keep it open."

Another Commission member, Councillor Vic D'Albert, told the Bury Times: "I am as horrified as anyone about the plans for closure. It is certainly a major concern for many people in the area, especially young mums and children being treated at the hospital.

"What annoys me is the fact that we are a scrutiny committee, and therefore I demand to see the evidence from the health trust which has led them to come to the conclusion they have no option but to close."

The Liberal Democrat councillor added: "It is not feasible to tell people, especially politicians, not to talk about it. We are going to have reviews and concerns that will need to be answered for our constituents who are contacting us to find out what is going on.

"All the parties are horrified at the moment but, due to lack of information, we can only see what the damage will be if the unit is closed."

But leader of the council John Byrne said he believed the three-month period was vital: "I feel it would be inappropriate to rush into making a judgement now.

"Statements are being made which are alarmist and misinformed by people who have not read the documents and who are making rash judgements.

"I asked the committee to look at all the evidence logically and consider all options before coming to a conclusion. We may still say in three months' time that we totally disagree, but let's look at the evidence first.

"We are going to talk to all the bodies, like the Pennine Acute Trust and Bury Primary Care Trust, and we want the public to come forward and tell us what they think.

"Nobody is being gagged, anyone can say what they want. They just have to be aware that if they are making the judgement before they have heard all the evidence, it may be the wrong decision and it is hard to go back and change their stance."

He added: "I live next to Fairfield Hospital and represent the East ward so I know more than most how people are feeling. The council do not want to do anything that will be detrimental to mothers and young children."

A public meeting will be held at Bury Town Hall, on September 13, organised by the Fairfield Baby Lifeline Society, a charity group which has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the unit in the past 25 years.

It will map out a campaign of action, which could include a protest march.

Anyone wanting to join the campaign can contact Lifeline members Sharron Entwistle on 0781 387 0002 or Donna Shephard on 07790 403758.