Campaigners mark two years of fighting to save Chorley A&E services
The Protect Chorley Hospital group are vowing to continue until round-the-clock access is restored
Dozens of protesters are expected to gather outside Chorley Hospital today, to mark two years since they first began their fight to restore round-the-clock A&E access to the site.
The Accident and Emergency department was shut and downgraded to an urgent care unit in April 2016.
Following campaigns from the Protect Chorley Hospital from Cuts group, it re-opened part time, with 12 hours of access to emergency care per day.
But the campaigners have continued their weekly protests, calling for a complete restoration of full services at the Trust.
On Saturday, it will be two years since they began their fight and are planning to mark the milestone with a day of speeches, marches, samba and a call to action from the local community.
Steve Turner, the Co-Chair of the group, told us:
"Well, two years is a long time in front of Chorley Hospital demonstrating, and through all kinds of weathers. It's been really hard but it's been fantastic to see all the commitment of the campaigners and the special bond that has been created between all of us now.
"We'll have speeches on what we call Campaign Hill outside the hospital, we'll then march into the town centre with a samba band. Then we've got a stall on Fazakerly Street.
"We have been successful, in making sure that although we lost the A&E unit, we have now got it back, albeit for 12 hours. What we are hoping to do is extend that 12 hours, first to 18 then to the full 24 hours so that we have got cover for the people of Chorley and South Ribble.
"If it takes another two years, then so be it"
"Come and support us and feel part of the community we've created her. Anyone is welcome to come down to this event. We will be there every Saturday. What we did commit ourselves to is making sure this A&E is open for 24 hours and if it takes another two years, then so be it."