Campaign to save Corbar comes to Chapel

PRESS RELEASE

July 4th, 2011

Campaign to save Corbar comes to Chapel

This Saturday (9^th July) the campaign group working to save Corbar Birth Centre from closure will be in Chapel-en-le-Frith to petition local residents and businesses for their support.

From 9.30am to midday, Save Corbar Birth Centre (SCBC) campaign group will be in the town centre with copies of their petition for people to sign.

Signatures to the petition urge Mark Todd as Chairman and David Sharp as Chief Executive of NHS Derbyshire County to retain and promote the Corbar Birth Centre in Buxton as it is a vital facility for families in the High Peak especially given the challenges presented to the area through rurality, climate and road links.

Backed by the National Childbirth Trust as well as High Peak MP, Andrew Bingham and more than six local councillors from the region, SCBC group is opposed to Derbyshire Primary Care Trust’s (PCT) proposal to close the High Peak’s only midwife led birth centre.

Fiona Lichfield, spokesperson for SCBC believes that many people in Chapel-en-le-Frith will want to sign the petition.

“Since this group was established, myself and others members of the group working to retain Corbar in the community have been overwhelmed by the support for our campaign to allow High Peak pregnant women to choose where they can deliver their babies.   

“This petition will show those with the power to maintain and promote Corbar’s much valued and respected services that their plans to shut Corbar are not just ill founded they are also extremely unpopular.” 

Following NHS Derbyshire County and NHS Derby City’s announcement in late May (2011) to review Corbar Birth Centre operations, a pre-engagement process was declared. SCBC’s petition will be presented to Derbyshire PRC in August, when the formal engagement period will take run until October 21st^. A final decision about Corbar’s future is due in November.

The petition is also available to sign at various shops and office across the High Peak. For more information about SCBC campaign group, email savecorbarbirthcentre@yahoo.co.uk. 

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