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Minister in NHS hospital protest Minister in NHS hospital protest
(about 7 hours later)
Cabinet minister Hazel Blears has joined a protest over plans to close part of a hospital in her constituency. Cabinet minister Hazel Blears has defended her decision to take part in a protest over plans to close part of a hospital in her constituency.
The proposals for Hope Hospital in Salford, Greater Manchester, are part of the controversial NHS shake-up. The proposals for Hope Hospital in Salford, Greater Manchester, are part of the controversial NHS shake-up throughout the country.
A spokesman for Ms Blears, the Labour Party chair, said she believed closure would be the "wrong thing to do". Ms Blears, Labour chairwoman, said: "My first and foremost job is to represent Salford and the people of the area."
BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said it was rare for a cabinet minister to come out against measures directly resulting from government policy. It is considered rare for a minister to directly oppose government policy.
The actions will be seen as an embarrassment, our correspondent said. Campaign group Health Emergency accused Ms Blears of being hypocritical by opposing local closures while supporting central government policy.
'Hot issue' Ms Blears dismissed any suggestion of conflict by saying: "I am representing the views of the people who elected me.
If the closure of maternity services is wrong in Salford, it is wrong in all those other parts of the country as well and Blears should be piling on pressure to ditch the cuts policy or she should resign Geoff MartinHealth Emergency
"I will continue to make the case that Salford needs its maternity services."
The government is determined to push ahead with a re-organisation of the NHS, which will see some closures.The government is determined to push ahead with a re-organisation of the NHS, which will see some closures.
It aims to consolidate but improve the services on offer at other hospitals.It aims to consolidate but improve the services on offer at other hospitals.
Mr Blears took part in Wednesday's demonstration outside the hospital over proposals to close and relocate its maternity unit. Mr Blears took part in the demonstration before Christmas outside the hospital over proposals to close and relocate its maternity unit.
Health chiefs want to concentrate maternity services in the region in three centres providing high quality intensive care for babies. Health chiefs want to concentrate maternity services in the region in three centres providing high-quality intensive care for babies.
The final decision on moving the unit is not due for several months. The final decision on moving the unit is not due for several months, but her spokesman confirmed that Ms Blears had privately lobbied Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt about the closure.
Ms Blears' spokesman told the BBC that she has had "informal contact" with the Health Secretary over the issue and plans to make formal representations. Ms Blears' spokesman told the BBC that she has had "informal contact" with the health secretary over the issue and plans to make formal representations.
'Hot issue'
He added: "She intends to campaign against it - it is a very hot issue locally."He added: "She intends to campaign against it - it is a very hot issue locally."
Her efforts follow Home Secretary John Reid's presence at protests against hospital cuts in his Airdrie and Shotts constituency in April.
Health Emergency's head of campaigns, Geoff Martin, said Cabinet ministers were only supporting local protests "in a bid to save their own political skins."
"There are 29 hospitals up and down the country facing the immediate threat of cuts and closure to key services in 2007.
"Will Hazel Blears be joining demonstrators on the streets in each of those areas or is this just a classic case of 'not in my back yard'?
"If the closure of maternity services is wrong in Salford, it is wrong in all those other parts of the country as well and Blears should be piling on pressure to ditch the cuts policy or she should resign."