I would like to thank the 7,696 people who signed the recent petition organised by SOS Grantham Hospital.
This called for the return of a fully operational A&E Unit, a consultant-led team to return to the Midwifery Unit, and the provision of an Acute Stroke Unit at Grantham Hospital.
Although the public consultation officially began before Christmas, we soon realised that we could not campaign straight away, as some people were confusing it with the campaign against the closure of Grantham Ambulance Station. So we held back, to give Last Gasp a clear run.
When we did begin campaigning later, practically all the signatures we collected were from a three-week period, which gives some indication of the depth of feeling about the issue in and around Grantham.
I would also like to thank all the various shops and businesses which had the petition for their staff and customers to sign.
In particular, I would like to thank Asda and Morrisons/Isaac Newton Centre, for allowing us to use their entrances to collect signatures, and also Munch in St Peter’s Hill; Grantham Health Store in King’s Walk; BrightHouse in the Isaac Newton Centre; G. Skinners and Sons (Butchers) in Market Place; Lloyds Pharmacy in New Beacon Road; and Wellies and Costcutter, both in Springfield Road. Each of these shops collected over a hundred signatures.
The people of Grantham have spoken. Now we need Shaping Health to listen.
JOHN MORGAN
Press Officer
SOS Grantham Hospital