Seven day march to save North East A&Es underway
Seven day march to save North East A&Es underway
Dozens of protestors are taking on the 100 plus mile walk between nine of our regions hospitals, in a bid to stop cuts to hospital services.
A week-long protest to save North East A&E departments is underway this morning.
Dozens of campaigners are taking on the Footprint March, a 100 mile walk between nine of our regions hospitals.
It's in response to the NHS England's Sustainability and Transformation Plans, which call for services to be reduced and combined in a bid to save costs.
Today campaigners will make their way from Bishop Auckland Hospital, to Shotley Bridge Hospital in Consett.
While concerns have been raised about demand for A&E services, and the losses those impacts will have, it's also believed specialist post-natal units and maternity units could also be at risk.
Joanne Land has helped organise the march, she said:
"There's going to be cuts to maternity, going to be cuts to stroke units, the number of A&E's in the area will go from five to two or even one - can you imagine the queues? That's not going to be a good outcome for anybody"
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We reached out to the NHS for a statement, they haven't responded as of yet.