The following extract is
from the old CARES site…
CARES
Protest at Formby Hall Golf Club
(Friday 28th November 2003)
At short notice, CARES were informed that Dr John Reid, Health Secretary,
was to be at Formby Hall Golf Club for a Labour Party event.
Very quickly supporters joined together and arrived at the entrance to
the golf club. Police asked us to wait outside; we unrolled banners and handed
out leaflets to people that were attending the event. Protesters from
Liverpool’s Fazakerley Hospital were also there to protest against closures of
local maternity services etc.
Cold yet determined protesters from the left to the right-wing of
politics were present. We were then informed that the Health Secretary would
speak to us when he arrived so we thanked officials and waited patiently in the
cold.
Once Dr Reid had arrived we were then informed that due to lateness he
could not see us. Obviously, we were all clearly very disappointed.
Everyone present held a good peaceful demonstration and did everything
instructed by the police.
One of the reasons we wanted to meet with John Reid was to discuss his
Labour party comments at Bournemouth on the 1st October wherein he stated:
“As long as I am Secretary of state it will remain the basic principle
of Labour Government health policy- that all our fellow citizens should have
equal access to health care free at the point of need.”
He continued:
“If your child or your mother was in pain and the means to relieve it
quicker were available at the point of need would you refuse them it? I wouldn't And if I wouldn't refuse that relief to my family, then I’m not going
to refuse it to any other family in this country.”
CARES ask:
Why as yet are these fine and noble sentiments
by Dr Reid not being followed up by effective policies within our communities?
Why did Dr Reid originally offer to speak
to CARES etc and then approximately ten minutes later decide he was
running so late that a couple of moments serious discussion about this life and
death services loss situation was out of the question?
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