The March To Save The Hospital - 10 years on

By established local journalist, Maurice Blisson.

The March To Save The Hospital - 10 years on.

MAURICE BLISSON was a local journalist for more than 50 years, including a decade at the Stafford Newsletter and 40 years with the BBC. He had just retired when the hospital crisis developed and was able to help with the publicity and PR side of the campaign, including the unprecedented march 10 years ago. These are his memories of that incredible Saturday.

More than 30,000 marchers - some people put estimates at 50,000 - turned out in glorious weather to protest at the downgrading and transfer of services at the hospital after a new Trust was set up following the 'scandal'.

Protestors were still leaving Market Square as the march leaders arrived at the hospital a mile away. Young and old, fit and infirm, many singing, all made their way to the hospital. There was no disorder apart from one lone woman protestor, and the police - obviously taken by surprise by the huge numbers - were content to do marshalling and road safety roles.

A jazz band played on the steps of the Guildhall as the matchers formed up and it was an unprecedented sight, with more people lining the streets than there were in the old days of the town pageant.

Nurses, doctors and hospital staff joined others marching to save the hospital after it was announced that a number of services were to be curtailed or merged with those at Stoke. The then-MP, Conservative Jeremy Lefroy, was vocal and supportive, as were the county and town councils. though many thought they could and should all have done more. A tented camp was established in the hospital grounds, with many activists remaining for 200 nights, while hospital bosses came and went.

The media turned out in force, many still churning out the fake news that hundreds had died. I contacted all the main news outlets and a few printed corrections, buried away inside the papers. In fact, the inquiry chairman Robert Francis QC (who should know!) said  '"it would be unsafe to infer from the figures that there was any particular number or range of numbers of avoidable or unnecessary deaths at the Trust."    

Now, 10 years later, there is still no 24-hour A&E at Stafford, and heart patients and high-risk maternity cases are treated at Stoke, meaning a long (and often expensive) round trip by relatives to see loved ones, as well as extra pressure on ambulance crews. 

 In that time the population of Stafford and the surrounding area has increased by 5 per cent to around 136,000, The public have not forgotten the dedication from overworked, tired and vulnerable staff during the recent covid pandemic. 

 The campaign goes on.



Credits: Support Stafford Hospital poster: Julian Porter.
Front page of the Staffordshire Newsletter.