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Connor taking battle to the top

Michael Byrne
7/ 2/2007

SCHOOLBOY Connor Barrett has taken his campaign to keep open Fairfield Hospital's special care baby unit to the very top.

Connor, 12, of Lenten Grove, Hopwood, is so keen for the government to stop the planned closure, he has written to Prime Minister Tony Blair about it.

The St Joseph's RC High School pupil has also written to deputy prime minister John Prescott, health secretary Patricia Hewitt, home secretary John Reid and local MP Jim Dobbin.

Fairfield General Hospital has suffered a double whammy over the last couple of months. In December it was announced that it would lose some paediatric and maternity services and special care baby unit, while last month it was confirmed that emergency surgery services would be moved to the Royal Oldham Hospital.

Connor was born at Fairfield General Hospital and also received treatment for asthma there when he was four.

He said: "I want to overturn the decision to close the services because I am worried someone could die with services being moved further away. But everyone I have written to just seems to be blaming everyone else.

"I spoke out against the plans at a meeting two years ago and I have been on the marches as well. I have also been talking to my friends and teacher about it as well to try and get them to support campaigns to keep the units open.

"I am still writing letters to try and I would like to meet with Heywood MP Jim Dobbin to get his support."

Connor's father Michael said: "I am really proud of Connor and the way he has taken an interest in these issues."

The government announced on Tuesday it was asking an independent panel to review the decision.

Councillor Colin Lambert, who led a campaign to keep services at Fairfield Hospital, said he and Jim Dobbin would be happy to meet Connor.