Date: 3rd March 2003
Released by: ANDREW TURNER

A morning collecting signatures in Freshwater has helped Island MP Andrew Turner’s “Hands off our Hospital” petition to pass the 50,000 target.

Mr Turner said,

“Some of the HealthFit ideas are quite good – such as bringing some services closer to the patient than St Mary’s Hospital. But others appear to be potentially dangerous – such as removing emergency surgery to the mainland – because they mean, for example, the end of maternity services or the downgrading of Accident and Emergency services.

“Over half the adult population of the Island has now signed the petition against the loss of services from St Mary’s to the mainland – and we had a very successful morning in Freshwater, so I am deeply grateful to West Wight residents for helping me to hit my 50,000 target!”