Oxford Health Feature Archive

Campaigners fighting the closure of their local maternity units (in Malmesbury and Devizes) got a small concession when the consultation period was recently extended.

The local PCT (Primary Care Trust) wants to close the units - which are said to offer sensitive, one-to-one care and support - to save money, in spite of local opposition (a petition against the closures attracted 10000 signatures).

"I received the most wonderful care and support postnatally at Malmesbury. I cannot emphasise enough what a difference this made to my recovery from a difficult birth and the bond that I made with my new baby. I went there as a frightened, exhausted wreck and came out 3 days later a happy, confident new mother."
(quote from a survey)

Campaigners are now hoping this latest development is a sign that the PCT may be on the defensive.

[ Full Report ] | Previous Campaign Reports: [ 1 | 2 ] | [ Save Malmesbury Maternity Unit website ]

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During the early hours of Sunday morning, 29 June, almost sixty members of the public broke into the grounds of GM giant Syngenta's reasearch station at Jealott's Hill near Bracknell, Berkshire. They pulled up a 600 sq metre research plot of experimental wheat.

Syngenta had government consent to plant upto 35 by 20 metres of genetical modified wheat. In a press release, protesters claimed that if allowed to pollenate, it would have spread GM material into the surrounding countryside...

For Photos [updated]Click Here
For Video [latest edit]Click Here
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