A SECOND march in protest at the closure of a ward at St Cross Hospital is taking place this weekend.
Organisers say the march, which takes place through Rugby town centre on Saturday (November 16), is being held to voice residents’ ‘displeasure and anger’ over the move, following a similar protest last month.
The 25-bed Hoskyn Ward will close on December 4.
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust has said access to medical inpatient beds at the hospital will remain the same for Rugby and Warwickshire patients, as the ward is being closed because patients from Coventry are no longer being sent there for treatment.
But campaigners say the loss of the ward will put the lives of people in Rugby and Coventry more at risk due to a lack of available beds across the Trust.
Tom Crinigan, organiser of the march, said: “To plan such a closure at a time when there will be greater demand due to winter pressures is madness.
“The planned closure was announced ‘through the backdoor’ without any proper consultation. None of the plans being drawn up by the Trust have been put to the people of Rugby for their views. This is what we are demanding now.
“Everyone in Rugby knows someone who has spent hours in the A&E department at Coventry waiting for treatment or to be admitted. Every bed needs to be defended.”
A UHCW spokesperson said the closure of Hoskyn Ward would not affect patients from Rugby, adding: “Following the introduction of a pathway for Coventry patients that avoids the need for them to transfer to Rugby, the Trust has seen a significant reduction in the demand for transfers to St Cross.
“It is important to note that access to medical inpatient beds will remain the same for Rugby and Warwickshire patients at St Cross.”
The Trust’s chief executive Professor Andy Hardy added: “This planned change does not mean less access to medical beds for Rugby and Warwickshire patients – we remain fully committed to offering more services and investing into the future of the Hospital of St Cross.”
The march will set off from Whitehall Recreation Ground at 11am on Saturday (November 16) and proceed to Caldecott Park, where a rally will be held.
