I think if a person feels strongly about any matter, then they should not just keep their mouths shut, regardless of which party they are in.
The closures of hospitals and wards and their consolidation into so called "centres of excellence" is just another way of saying that hospitals and their wards are closing to save money.
Here in Southport, we have no childrens A&E and no maternity unit, although a good lady of Southport from years past, Christiana Hartley, used her own money to open a specialist maternity unit. It was moved, then closed. Southport is a holiday town and yet the nearest A&E is miles away, on a very busy route. It is only by some miracle that there have not been any deaths due to traffic congestion and time lapse. The sad thing is that it will probably take a handful of deaths to reverse the descision. Hazel Blears, however, must know that protest or not, the facility will close, so really her position is safe.