On one wet Saturday that month I led two separate marches of 4,000 people each through the streets of Bridgnorth in the morning and Ludlow that afternoon. Another march of up to 2,000 marched through Bishop's Castle.
These were some of the largest demonstrations in the Ludlow constituency in recent memory. Each community united to save their hospital.
How things have changed. Today Bridgnorth has a large new multi-million pound extension to its hospital and a brand new Health Treatment Centre next door, to which the GPs surgery has relocated.
Work is starting this month on the second phase of a £1 million refurbishment of Bishop's Castle Community Hospital at Stone House.
Ludlow is the top priority in the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority's bid for a major new Health Facility, to relocate the Community Hospital alongside both GP surgeries in a major multi-million pound rebuild. A public meeting was held last week to explain these plans and seek to take into account local residents' views.
These developments would not have happened if our communities were not united in support. At this time of straightened public finances, it is all the more important not to give NHS bosses excuses to switch off projects in Shropshire. I am determined to play my part in securing these 21st century health facilities to meet the health needs of local people for our and future generations.
