Occupy Stafford Hospital

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markpa12003

Well-Known Forumite
For those that don't know a group of campaigners have set up camp at Stafford Hospital and plan to stay there until the 'powers that be' reverse their ridiculous decision to downgrade the hospital.

I know camping is not for everyone, however I'm sure they would be grateful for any support that you can give, supplies, a beep of the horn as you drive past or simply pull up a deck chair for a couple of hours.

A 'big thank you' to the campaigners.

You can follow the occupy Stafford campaign on twitter and facebook.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I do wonder if regular beeping of horns might not annoy the locals - and possibly even the patients.
 
cometcycle

cometcycle

Well-Known Forumite
We've been up a couple of times. There wasn't a great deal of horn peeping going on and I doubt it would have been heard within the Hospital.

As markpa12003 has said above, please show your support in anyway you can. Go and have a chat and find out just why they continue to campaign for the Hospital - suffice to say the recommended cuts are just the beginning.

I don't use Facebook but on Twitter use #OccupySSH and #StandUpForStafford to show support and follow developments.
 
cometcycle

cometcycle

Well-Known Forumite
My Name is URL said:
Good way to fill the summer holidays..... not sure what they plan to do for toilet / washing facilities though :(
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There was a tweet being shared along the lines of - Benidorm £499, Occupy SSH Free!
With regards to Facilities I believe they were initially allowed access to the Toilets in the Hospital reception area, I'm not sure what the latest is though. The best thing to do would be to pop up and have a chat with them (take a tent if you can)! ;)
 
captainpish

captainpish

Well-Known Forumite
How about they go find the tossers responsible for making the decisions and occupy their front lawns. That is the only way they will take notice. The whole of stafford could occupy that field and they wouldnt change their minds.
 
P

PPPPPP

Well-Known Forumite
captainpish said:
How about they go find the tossers responsible for making the decisions and occupy their front lawns. That is the only way they will take notice. The whole of stafford could occupy that field and they wouldnt change their minds.
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True, sadly. Everyone in Stafford not paying council tax might send a stronger message.
 
Trumpet

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
Midlands news on teletext says there are no plans to attempt to move the campers on. Sounds like a case of 'if we ignore them, they'll go away' So, no real impact then.
 
joshua

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
O
Trumpet said:
Midlands news on teletext says there are no plans to attempt to move the campers on. Sounds like a case of 'if we ignore them, they'll go away' So, no real impact then.
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Or maybe the hospital staff feel that it can only do good to have such support from the community,
Our hospital is not perfect none are, the staff are only human and prey to the same failures that we all are, but they are doing thier best to care for all of us under circumstances that would reduce some of us to tears.
We need our hospital and we need the best staff and facilities and i have nothing but admiration and respect for those who are giving up thier free time to show support.
It may not as you say "have impact" but the day we stop caring will be the end for us all.
 
wildwood

wildwood

Well-Known Forumite
Wife and kids went up to see them yesterday.

There are spare tents if you want to stay over. There's a tent full of toys for the littl'uns. They've been donated loads of supplies, cans of pop, sweets, crisps etc.
 
Trumpet

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
joshua said:
O
Or maybe the hospital staff feel that it can only do good to have such support from the community,
Our hospital is not perfect none are, the staff are only human and prey to the same failures that we all are, but they are doing thier best to care for all of us under circumstances that would reduce some of us to tears.
We need our hospital and we need the best staff and facilities and i have nothing but admiration and respect for those who are giving up thier free time to show support.
It may not as you say "have impact" but the day we stop caring will be the end for us all.
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Well said.
 
cometcycle

cometcycle

Well-Known Forumite
Trumpet said:
Midlands news on teletext says there are no plans to attempt to move the campers on. Sounds like a case of 'if we ignore them, they'll go away' So, no real impact then.
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The TSA have now tried to ban the Press from the site. Can't see that it'll make the Campaigners go away though and anyone with a Smart Phone these days has the ability to be a Citizen Journalist.

I also gather that members of a number of other Hospital Campaign Groups are planning to visit on Sunday
 
proactive

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Surely if a cameraman or a journalist is feeling unwell they have every right to enter the site, camera rolling or not?

They'll be banning patients next and sending them to North Staffs or Newcross...
 
cometcycle

cometcycle

Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc said:
Wasn't there a sign to that effect at the entrance? I'm sure I saw it a few months back.
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You may well be right, I've never had cause to look for one as all previous visits had been for Family health issues. I'm not sure what was said yesterday that set things buzzing (probably something re-iterated as a result of Midlands Today Interview?
The Press can be a resourceful bunch when it suits them, Interviews could be done just off site and plenty of footage from within the camp anyway.
 
cometcycle

cometcycle

Well-Known Forumite
Mikinton said:
I'm surprised you haven't yet tried that.
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Needs to be someone with much more confidence than I have (and ideally someone permanently at the site). I'm hoping to stay up there Friday night so might put a few ideas forward.

Meanwhile does anyone have any suggestions as to pro NHS celebrities that might help spread the message. So far on Twitter I'm aware of Science Writer Marcus Chown and Comedian Rufus Hound Tweeting Support, not sure on the Facebook side but my Wife did mention a newsreader called Fiona (Bruce - I think).
 
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