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Website petition boost on hospital services threat

The Hemel Hempstead Gazette is giving its support to a campaign to save Hemel Hempstead Hospital’s Maternity and Special Care Baby Unit.

North West Herts Community Health Council has proposed that childcare services be concentrated at Watford General Hospital but their plans have met with firm opposition from the public and hospital staff.

The Gazette been using its website, Hemel On-line, to offer readers the chance of adding their names to the petition over the Internet or order a supply of hospital petition forms via e-mail.

The paper has also given its support to the campaign by displaying a chart showing how many people have already given support to the campaign in its Gazette News Shop.

And the message board for the website has been inundated with comments from outraged hospital staff and local residents, angry about the Community Health Council’s proposal.

Staff fear that moving the services to Watford, which would have to deal with around 5,000 births a year, would mean that soon-to-be mums wouldn’t be able to bond with midwives and receive a less personal service.

Campaigners against the closure told the health council they had gathered 7,000 signatures on a petition in support of keeping Hemel Hempstead Hospital’s Maternity and Baby unit.

Public meetings are being held in the coming weeks to give locals and hospital staff a chance to air their views to representatives of the North West Herts Community Health Council.

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