PRESS RELEASE 16 NOVEMBER 2000 HEALTH GROUP TO CHALLENGE FOR COUNTY SEATS (Embargo until 12 noon, 23 November 2000)

Health Concern, the hospital campaigning group, intends to have candidates in the County Council elections in May next year. Their outstanding successes in the last two District Council elections produced 19 Health Concern councillors to form the largest group in the ruling "Rainbow Alliance".

Group leader, Councillor John Gordon said today,

"The hospital service issue is still 'red hot' and the authorities are bumbling on with their flawed Worcestershire plans causing much upset and anxiety which is now manifesting itself well beyond Wyre Forest. We must therefore widen the debate into the whole county and encourage more 'people power' to speak through the ballot box. The Health Authority is spending our money to affect our county hospital services and they have closed all acute inpatient services and the accident and emergency department at our own excellent hospital. They must be made to hear our voice and in our democracy the ballot box is the only way of focusing politicians not only to listen but to act upon our case."

Health Concern election co-ordinator, David Parry added,

"We are presently targeting election seats, allocating strong candidates to contest them and raising voluntary donations to afford the campaigns which are expensive without a political party base to under pin them. Anyone wishing to offer himself or herself as a potential candidate, helper or patron with a donation should drop a line to: -

PO Box 1823, Kidderminster DY10 6WZ or contact me on 01562 638452.

The Hospital Campaign will continue and our aim is still to restore accident and emergency facilities in Kidderminster despite opposition."

For further information please contact Dr Richard Taylor
or Cllr. John Gordon on 01299 826272