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Which side are you on? Blears asked

29/12/2006

Salford MP Hazel Blears has come under pressure from some quarters after deciding to join a protest over the partial closure of Hope Hospital.

Campaign group Health Emergency has accused Ms Blears of double standards because she opposes the closure of maternity units at Hope but supports national government policy of NHS reform.

And the Tories have said that Ms Blears should either attempt to change government policy or get out of the cabinet if she feels so strongly about the decision.

Ms Blears, who is also chairwoman of the Labour Party, said that representing her constituents is her most important job.

She told BBC Radio Five Live that she joined a recent protest to stop the partial closure "because local people feel incredibly strongly that their maternity services in Salford".

"As a local constituency MP I went along to talk to some of the staff, talk to some of the mums who had babies born at the hospitals and I am quite properly […] making sure that local people are heard loud and clear," she added.

The Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts has recommended shutting down Hope's maternity units as part of a wider review of services across Greater Manchester.




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