TOMORROW is a big day in Edinburgh. The city will as usual be divided as Hearts take on Hibs in the derby clash but hopefully it will be united in the quest to secure the future of the vital services at the city's Sick Kids hospital, as dozens of volunteers take to the streets to collect signatures for our Hands Off the Sick Kids campaign
Rivalries will be set aside as both teams' supporters' groups encourage fans to sign up outside Tynecastle stadium. And signing-up points will be set up in Princes Street, leading stores, pubs and restaurants.
There has already been a powerful r
esponse to the petition, which was launched by former brain tumour patient Ross Newlands, 16, and his family, with the backing of the Evening News.
Thousands of readers have called on the Scottish Government not to downgrade cancer and neurology services at the Sick Kids which have been put at risk by a review of specialist paediatric services across Scotland. One or even two centres in Glasgow, Aberdeen or the Capital are at risk of closure.
Our campaign has attracted widespread support from across the political and social spectrum. MSPs of all parties have backed MSP George Foulkes' motion at the Scottish Parliament which warns the loss of services in Edinburgh would mean parents and children already dealing with difficult and challenging circumstances would endure significant stress and additional suffering.
Pop star KT Tunstall, who visited the Sick Kids last month, said such a scenario would be "nightmare", a view echoed in the News yesterday by Susan Farrell, the mother of 17-month-old Charlotte who requires regular treatment at the Sick Kids. Were it not available locally she would face lengthy round trips to either Glasgow or Aberdeen.
There are few people in Edinburgh who can truly claim that the issue does not affect them. Young people will have children in the future and older people will have grandchildren, and many thousands of people will be grateful for excellent local treatment in the future as they have been in the past.
Once lost, specialist services are unlikely to be available again and it is vital that the whole city acts now.
A similar campaign in Aberdeen, where services are also under threat has collected 25,000 signatures. If Edinburgh cannot show a similar strength of opposition to potential losses it will send a clear signal to Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon that Edinburgh does not care as much. The SNP pledged not to centralise hospital services, so sign up tomorrow and show them you expect that promise to be kept.
