Scotland
Cowal Against The Cuts in Health Services (C.A.T.C.H.E.S)
The group started campaigning in mid 2004 in opposition to Argyll and Clyde's plans to cut their deficits. There have been six well attended public meetings across the area. We have had stalls at various events and we have had enormous support from our local paper. We have joined the Scottish Health Campaign Network and through it have meetings with the Minister at six monthly intervals. We have also been invited to have representation on the local redesign group for Dunoon Hospital, the Public Participation Forum and have one of our members on the CHP. We are represented on the Cowal Community Care Forum and also on the Inverclyde Health Committee chaired by the provost of Inverclyde.
Contact: Kenneth Barr - kdmbarr@aol.com
Save Aboyne Maternity
The group formed to fight proposed closure of the Midwife Led Unit in Aboyne.
The local Community Health Partnership (CHP) of NHS managers is currently restricting the service offered in Aboyne, particularly in post-natal care, and are proposing closure of the unit. Groups in Fraserburgh, Peterhead and Banff are fighting similar battles, with Insch and Huntly having lost their units already.
Organisations such as UNICEF, The Royal College of Midwives and the Scottish Executive all favour decentralised, low-tech care where possible. This enables women to have a more positive birth experience, encourages breast feeding, reduces the need for medical intervention and supports community health in the long term - all while saving the NHS money.
Contact: info@saveaboynematernity.co.uk
Website: http://saveaboynematernity.co.uk/
Save Monklands A&E
The closure of the Monklands Accident & Emergency department may have been approved by the Scottish Executive, but with Scottish parliamentary elections due on 3 May 2007, campaigners are hoping that they they can convert the 50,000 signatures on their petition into 50,000 voters opposed to the closure. If electoral success was achieved, the closure plans might yet be reversed.Contact: Mev Brown - http://www.savemonklandsa-e.org.uk/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=3, 0131 468 2007
Website: http://www.savemonklandsa-e.org.uk/index.php
Scottish Health Campaigns Network
The SHCN represents communities throughout Scotland which have various health issues and serves as a collective voice for these groups.
The seeds of the organisation were sown in the northern suburbs of Glasgow, as residents reacted to the on-going loss of services at Stobhill Hospital as it approached its hundredth birthday.
Despite public meetings, marches and the delivery of petitions to successive health ministers at the Scottish Parliament, no progress was achieved in arresting this trend. As a last resort, it was decided to exert pressure by political means.
Contact: Malcolm Allan, Media contact SHCN - enquiries@scottishhealthnetwork.org.uk
Stop the Downgrade Campaign
Stop the Downgrade campaigns to prevent the removal of services from St John's Hospital in Livingston, West Lothian.
Website: http://stopthedowngrade.org/index.html
Contact: comments@stopthedowngrade.org