HEALTH campaigners today called on Cabinet minister Ruth Kelly to join a protest against plans to cut jobs at a hospital in her constituency.

Unions said hundreds of jobs were at risk at the Royal Bolton Hospital in Greater Manchester under plans to make savings of é3.75 million.

Unison said it will be writing to the Communities and Local Government minister to find out what she intends to do about the "appalling decision".

Campaign group Health Emergency asked whether Ms Kelly will become the latest minister to protest against hospital cuts in their area following the controversy surrounding Labour chairwoman Hazel Blears, who joined a protest in her constituency last month.

Geoff Martin, of Health Emergency, said today: "Here we have yet another round of savage health cuts in the backyard of a prominent government minister.

"This puts Ruth Kelly bang on the spot. Is she going to stand by her Government's health policy and cut hundreds of frontline hospital staff in Bolton adrift, or will she be the latest cabinet member to break ranks?"
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