March for Callum tomorrow (Saturday) is a chance to reflect - The Bromsgrove Standard

March for Callum tomorrow (Saturday) is a chance to reflect

Bromsgrove Editorial 28th Apr, 2017 Updated: 28th Apr, 2017   0

A FAMILY day to reflect on the tragic death of youngster Callum Cartlidge and to highlight the changes happening to health services is being held in Redditch tomorrow (Saturday).

The idea of Callum’s family, the ‘March for Callum’ has been taken up by the campaign group OurNHS Worcestershire to highlight the health services the local area 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 families, with face painting, games and activities and with Tommy Wilson offering to put on a fair ride on the Green.

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