KEEP CHRISTIES - LEECH

12.09.47am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th Jul 2005

Withington Liberal Democrat MP John Leech has handed in a petition of over 1500 names to Strategic Health Authority bosses calling on the Authority to guarantee that the Christie Cancer Hospital will not be closed and that services at Christie's will not be broken up. He is in the process of writing to everyone who signed the petition.

John Leech MP said today, "When I met with senior SHA staff they recognised the legitimate concerns of the doctors at Christie and my constituents. I hope it has the desired effect of keeping Christie open and in one piece in Withington."

"I am calling on the Strategic Health Authority to back Christie's ambitious plans for the future, so that that the Christie will strengthen its role from a regional centre of excellence to a world class cancer specialist hospital."

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