Carole, Jenny and Dave, Chorley Socialist Party
200 people gathered to protest against the sudden closure of Cuerden Ward at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. The ward was only opened in 2022.
Staff, hospital campaigners, trade unionists, and the community are shocked. The decision has been made without warning, information, or consultation provided to staff and the recognised trade unions.
The protest was organised by ‘Protect Chorley and South Ribble Hospital Campaign’. They have bravely campaigned every Saturday for years against NHS cuts and privatisation.
Unite the Union was well represented at the protest. Unite’s Lancashire Area Activist Committee has officially condemned the ward closure, insisting it be reversed. Socialist Party and Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) supporters were well represented too.
There is a strong head of steam demanding reversal of the closure. The hospital management will never be forgiven if they did otherwise.
The proposed closure also needs to be seen in the context of the Labour government pushing back the ‘New Hospital Programme’ by several years.
Our hospitals are suffering dreadful cuts and closures, massive staff shortages, seriously deteriorating buildings, and increasing privatisation. With Labour health secretary Wes Streeting’s support of NHS privatisation, this has to be fought tooth and nail.
