Join campaign bed push
(Herald Express 14/9/2006)
by Julie McCord

MPS David Gauke and Mike Penning prepare for the bed push to Watford.

Organisers of a high profile rally to save Kernel Hempstead Hospital are calling for as many people as possible to join a bed push from Marlowes to Watford Hospital on Sunday, October 8.
Kernel Hempstead MP Mike Penning and South West Herts MP David Gauke will be pushing the specially adapted hospital bed as part of the campaign to stop the closure of the town's hospital under money-saving plans to reorganise health care in West Herts.
The bed push, that starts from Marlowes Bandstand at 10am, will also be a charity event to raise funds for the Hospice of St "Francis in Berkhamsted and Peace Hospice in Watford.
There will be a lunchtime rally in Kings Langley before the bed push continues down the old A41 route all the way to Watford Hospital in Vicarage Road.
Mr Penning said: "We are trying to encourage as many people as possible to join us and also to help collect signatures for the petition David Gauke and I will present the following week to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.
"Our message is loud and clear - leave our hospital alone.

"There has not been one clinical argument put forward to justify closing Hemel Hempstead Hospital. It is all about money and the fact that the Hemel hospital site is worth a fortune. "But that is short term thinking and will lead to a disastrous situation."