A CONSERVATIVE MP hopeful who hopes to win back Solihull for the party unveiled an NHS campaign billboard this week – and said Tories would protect maternity services.Maggie Throup, prospective parliamentary candidate for Solihull, unveiled the Shirley billboard which features a picture of leader David Cameron and the words: ‘We can’t go on like this. I’ll cut the deficit, not the NHS’.
The party launched its draft manifesto on the NHS this week, shortly after plans to axe most births from Solihull Hospital was put on hold.
The manifesto pledges to give mothers a ‘real choice over where to have their baby’ and introduce ‘local maternity networks to ensure that mothers can safely access the right care, in the right place at the right time’.
Ms Throup said in a press release: “Our draft NHS manifesto is very timely with everyone here in Solihull so concerned about the future of our maternity services.
“Conservatives are committed to a system that is more personal and more local – with more choice, through our proposals for maternity networks.
“Under Labour all we seem to be getting is bigger and bigger baby factories where mothers can feel neglected with some even being turned away on the doorstep – and some even in labour.”
The Conservatives lost Solihull to Liberal Democrat Lorely Burt at the last general election in 2005.
Ms Throup, left in the above photograph, was joined by shadow minister for the cabinet office Francis Maude MP, centre.
Borough NHS chiefs say there are not enough staff to safely provide maternity cover at Solihull. This follows similar maternity closures throughout England.
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