A PROTEST march over the decision to scrap plans to build a super-hospital in Hatfield and concentrate acute and emergency care at either Lister or the QEII is taking place. Anne Wells, staff side chair at the East and North Herts NHS Trust, said: The st

A PROTEST march over the decision to scrap plans to build a super-hospital in Hatfield and concentrate acute and emergency care at either Lister or the QEII is taking place.

Anne Wells, staff side chair at the East and North Herts NHS Trust, said: "The staff side of the Trust has taken the decision to protest about the PCT's decision that Hatfield is unaffordable and that the services provided by the Trust should be consolidated onto one site.

"Trade unions, staff and members of the public are angry they voted for Hatfield and John Reid, in his time as health secretary, promised it would happen and now it can't be afforded.

"The decision to consolidate services onto one site will result in more job losses, and therefore poorer patient care.

"We are asking the Secretary of Sate for Health, Patricia Hewitt, to urgently intervene to prevent further closures and job losses in order to protect our patients.

"We will be around the towns collecting signatures on Saturday (December 2) and marching on Sunday (December 3)."

The meeting place for protesters joining the march is Stevenage Blind Gardens, off St George's Way, at 9.30am.

A march to Lister and a demonstration outside the hospital will then take place.