This is the website of the People's Protest Group which was formed in Nuneaton in the summer of 2006 to fight cuts in services at the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton. In June 2006 the Acute Services Review (ASR) consultation was announced. It contained recommendations to stop evening and weekend Emergency surgery, cut children’s services, close the Special Care Baby Unit and downgrade Maternity.

Over the last 16 months, consultation Groups across North & South Warwickshire and South Leicestershire have organised petitions and marches. The People's Protest Group held a large march in Nuneaton and set up stalls in Nuneaton, Bedworth, Atherstone and Hinckley. A lot has also been happening behind the scenes. Meetings have been held with hospital bosses and the Primary Care Trusts. Information was obtained using the Freedom of Information Act and hundreds of documents were studied. The group has also attended formal meetings of the PCT, Hospital Board, the County & Boroughs Councils and public consultation meetings.

The ASR review board released its recommendations in the summer of 2007. In reality it has just delayed the un-popular proposals by passing the problems to a new Provider Strategy Board that will meet in secret to plan cuts. The other hidden cut is the 351 beds across Coventry and Warwickshire, which is tucked away in annex 10.

The local NHS is under-funded and being taken over by a government drive to send all our services to the University hospital in Coventry. The George Eliot Hospital Trust has had to borrow £11.5 million “support” in 2006/7 to keep going. We fear that a large part of the site will be sold for housing as it is in the council’s ten year local plan.