Pregnant ladies protest outside St Helier Hospital (From Sutton Guardian)

Pregnant ladies protest outside St Helier Hospital

2:15pm Monday 3rd September 2012 in Save St Helier By Sophia Sleigh, Reporter

Pregnant mums have been proudly bearing their bumps to protest against proposed closures at St Helier Hospital.

The angry mums-to-be gathered at the hospital on Saturday, September 1 and daubed the message ‘Save St Helier’ on their bumps.

The ladies were led by Kathy McGuiness, the founder of Carshalton Mums, an online forum for mums to share information.

She said: “It is totally undemocratic and unfair to shut down such a well-loved and valuable maternity service. 

“The people behind this proposal don’t live around here, or seem to care how worried and angry ordinary people are.

“The welfare of our unborn children is at risk and we simply won’t stand for it.  NHS South West London have a real fight on their hands if they think they can downgrade St Helier.

“Pregnant mums want to go somewhere local - we don’t want unnecessary stress when we’re at our most vulnerable. And what about mothers with no car but several toddlers in tow? 

"We shouldn’t have to traipse across London for our maternity care.  We are outraged at the proposals and will do everything we can to stop them."

The ladies are also backing a Family Fun Day on Saturday September 8, from 12pm to 4pm.