A CLITHEROE couple have spoken of their terror at watching their four-year-old granddaughter collapse with meningitis.

Now Josephine and Jack Dennison, of Bolland Prospect, have said a public thank-you to the quick-acting East Lancashire health workers who helped save her life.

And they have also launched a fight to save Pendlebury Children's Hospital in Manchester where the tot battled for five days in intensive care.

Josephine described how little Leah Smith of Accrington complained of pains in her legs during a stay at their home.

By 2am she was so violently sick that Josephine called a doctor.

She said: "Leah was delirious, shaking and very, very hot. Dr John Dumsday of Slaidburn Health Centre came straight away.

"He called an ambulance and, before we knew it, they had Leah on a drip and on her way to Queen's Park Hospital.

"All hell let loose when hospital staff realised what was wrong," Josephine continued. "Nurses appeared from everywhere. "She went into seizure and they battled to save her while a flying squad came from Manchester.

"They saved my granddaughter's life. If everything had been half an hour later, she would have died.

"The way these people work in an emergency is unbelievable.

"They worked together as a team from start to finish and everyone knew what they were doing. I can't thank them enough."

The hospital is now threatened with closure and health chiefs plan to relocate the flying squad to St Mary's Hospital on the other side of Manchester.

Josephine claims East Lancashire youngsters will get a raw deal from the new arrangement.

"The flying squad might not have got to Blackburn in time had it been based further away.

"Nursing staff there regularly work 12 hour shifts. How dedicated can you get? Yet they are going to close the place down. It's madness."

The Dennisons are calling on local people to join the fight.

They have placed petitions at Clitheroe Health Centre and at primary and secondary schools throughout the Ribble Valley.

Josephine said: "One day it might happen to you. Fight this closure now, before it's too late."

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