"I am proud to represent the people of Burnley and Padiham in Parliament. Burnley is a great place to live and work and work and I promise always to do my best for my constituents both in Burnley and at Westminster.”

To read Kitty’s maiden speech in the House of Commons, click here

I am one of Kitty's constituents and I
would like to raise the following issue

Hospital Campaign

 "Patients First, Not Politics "
  says Burnley’s MP

        
         Labour MP Kitty Ussher with campaign supporters

         including Frank Sinclair and Dave Edmundson of

         Burnley Football Club.

Local Labour MP Kitty Ussher is leading the campaign on   Burnley General Hospital. So far, we have achieved the following:

1. Burnley General will not only remain open but it is expanding.


2. Nine out of ten cases currently treated at Burnley’s A&E will still be treated there.


3. The Edith Watson unit will be strengthened so that Burnley can specialise in maternity for the whole of East Lancashire.


4. Burnley will also specialise in operations you have an appointment for.


5. We will have more ambulances for Burnley and the possibility of an air ambulance.


6. There will be a free shuttle bus for patients and relatives between Burnley and Blackburn.


And of course deaths from heart disease and cancer in Burnley have fallen in recent years.

       

        The New Phase 5 at Burnley General.

So what's all the fuss about?

Local hospital managers said they could save more lives if East Lancs had a new emergency department that would take around 10 per cent of existing Burnley A&E cases. It was proposed this should be in Blackburn.


If you go to Burnley General now the consultant you need may not be there. But the new department would be fully staffed all the time. We were concerned about the increased travel times, and wanted the local decision sent into national government for review. but a committee of local councillors thought that was not necessary.

Kitty’s promise:


"I will always fight for Burnley General and put patients first. If the decisions of the local managers do not work for Burnley I will have no hesitation in calling for the matter to be reviewed once again"

     

        Kitty speaking up for Burnley in Westminster

Kitty foungt for Burnley General and she'll keep on fighting.
  • The petition organised by Kitty Ussher working
    with local community activists got around
    10,000 signatures. All of them received an
    individual response.

  • Kitty Ussher organised a town centre march
    for the hospital in December 05.
  • Kitty arranged a meeting with Burnley people
    with the health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, who
    said she’d look again at the plans if they were
    referred to her by the local committee of
    councillors—But the councillors decided it wasn't neccessary
  • Millions of pounds has been invested into Burnley
    General. Phase V of the new building is now
    complete.
  • The national target is to have a maximum of 18
    weeks between seeing your GP and getting the
    operation you need.
  • Deaths from cancer and heart disease in Burnley are
    falling.
  • Burnley will specialise in maternity services
    throughout E Lancs—that’ll mean more babies with
    Burnley on their birth certificates!

It’s completely untrue that the hospital is closing. Nine out of ten A&E cases will still be seen at Burnley General and other departments are expanding.

           

            Kitty meets with the Burnley Express Battlebus.

Make a comment on this issue
 
Kitty is a regular contributor to parliamentary debates, asking questions of ministers on behalf of her constituents.

For more details of Kitty's parlimentary activities
In addition to her weekly column in Friday's Burnley Express, Kitty also writes for the Guardian on-line politics page as well as Tribune newspaper


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