‘A CHANCE for reflection on what the town has lost’ – that’s the aim behind the March for Callum which happens this Saturday (April 29) in the town centre.
The idea of Callum’s family, it has since been taken up by the campaign group Our NHS Worcestershire to highlight the health services Redditch has lost as well as to remember the tragic loss of a lively eight year old son.
Callum Cartlidge was eight years old when he died in the Accident and Emergency department of Worcestershire Royal after being taken to Worcester, 19 miles away, despite living just three minutes from the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.
“I think the town has been in a state of shock – here was a young boy who was taken ill yet could not access services at his own A&E,” said a spokesperson for OurNHS Worcestershire.
“I think the town realised then some of the services it has lost, services like maternity, paediatric emergency care, gynaecology and our A&E at risk of becoming adult only, leading to a sense of anger, bewilderment and worry.”
The march, which will be conducted in silence, will assemble in the car park at Trinity High School at 11am before leaving at 11.30am to walk up Grove Street to the bandstand on Church Green where for three hours there will be a range of family orientated activities for people to take part in and enjoy.
Road closures will be in place for 30 minutes from 11.30am, closing Access 1 off the ring road, Grove Street and parts of Archer Road.
These will be lifted as soon as the march has passed.
“Our fear is that our A&E at the Alex is going to go 8am to 8pm because, with the greatest will in the world, we cannot see where they are going to find the doctors to staff it,” said the spokesperson.
The day itself promises to be a fun time for all families, with face painting, games and activities and with Tommy Wilson offering to put on a fair ride on the Green.
