More than 500 people gathered in King’s Lynn at the weekend to protest against the possible loss or downgrading of services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Protesters gathered in the Tuesday Market Place on Saturday to show their opposition to proposals being considered as part of a clinical review, including the possible loss of A&E, maternity and intensive care services at the QEH.
Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group is examining the future of care and insists no decisions have been made.
Independent borough councillor Jo Rust, one of the organisers, said: “This is a trust decision and the attendance on Saturday of about 500 people who need, use and value our services at the QEH, sent a clear message to that trust board that we’re prepared to fight to retain them.”
She said: “I’ll be attending the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on November 19 and asking them to refer a negative decision to the Secretary of State for Health.”
People of all ages formed a giant human A&E queue, with some carrying signs showing how long it currently takes them to reach the QEH compared with the journey to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
The demonstration was organised by volunteers from the QEH Community Action Group and others, with people travelling from across West Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire to take part.
County and borough councillor Rob Colwell thanked the more than 500 people who attended.
He said: “Today the community spoke loudly and clearly. More than 500 people came to Tuesday Market Place because they care deeply about our hospital and the services it provides.
“This wasn’t just about numbers. Every person standing there has a story. They are patients, relatives, NHS staff and members of communities that depend upon the QEH. They came because they want those voices heard as part of the Clinical Review.
“Our message to the Trust is simple: the Clinical Review must not result in reduced services at the QEH.”
He described the gathering as the largest demonstration in living memory at the Tuesday Market Place and said two people in their 80s had told him they had never attended a protest before but felt this was too important to miss.
Cllr Colwell said the campaign would continue and stressed that decisions about the hospital’s future must take account of the rural area it serves and the distances patients already travel for treatment.
Councillor Simon Ring said he had heard moving stories from residents concerned about the impact of longer journeys to Norwich for emergency treatment.
He spoke to two women who believed their own lives or those of relatives who had suffered strokes could have been at risk if they had needed to travel to Norwich.
He also said a QEH midwife had told him King’s Lynn had been accepting maternity patients from Norwich during the week because the Norfolk and Norwich maternity unit had been closed to admissions.
Mr Ring said: “King’s Lynn needs a fully functioning district general hospital, with A&E, maternity, intensive care and general surgery. Not a downgraded facility leaving residents miles from essential treatment.”
North West Norfolk MP James Wild and South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy were among those supporting the demonstration, alongside local councillors, NHS staff and community volunteers.
Watch the video below to hear directly from those who attended and why they believe these services must be protected.
