Bed protest helps hospice
by Pete Bennett
(Herald Express 12/10/2006)

DIRE DIAGNOSIS: Sunday's Bed Push Protest warns more health cuts could cost lives.

The Hospice of St Francis received a boost from demonstrators at the Hospital Bed Push Protest on Sunday.

Hundreds of protesters joined in the march from Hemel Hempstead to Watford to save Hemel Hospital and fundraisers collected more than £200 for the Hospice of St Francis on the day.
Residents lined parts of the route, coming out of their homes to support the marchers and offer donations to the hospice.

Liz Richards from the Hospice of St Francis said: "We raised £200 on the day but a lot of people doing the march were sponsored so there is still money coming in. One chap has managed to raise more than £100.
"We are delighted and very grateful that they used the bed push as an opportunity to help the Hospice of St Francis as well."

The march brought parts of Hemel Hempstead and Kings Langley to a standstill as protesters wound their way down the nine-mile route to Watford General Hospital.
MP Mike Penning, who led the march with South West Herts MP David Gauke, declared the bed push a success and said he would be handing over a petition against cuts to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt next week.