TV star's plea to keep maternity unit open (From Gazette & Herald)

TV star's plea to keep maternity unit open

VETERAN actor Bill Maynard has offered his support to the maternity wing at Malton Hospital.

Mr Maynard, 75 this year, is currently starring in Yorkshire Television's new hospital series The Royal, a networked spin-off to the popular Heartbeat.

He told the Gazette & Herald: "I have many friends in the Malton area and many years ago I had some outpatient treatment at the hospital.

"In the early days of Heartbeat I drove Nick Berry there for treatment after he was injured in a road accident.

"Then during the first Malton Motor Show, while I was recovering from a stroke, I was asked to visit patients and staff, pushed around in a wheelchair.

"It is such a friendly and efficient hospital with a devoted staff and local GPs. You are very lucky to have such an excellent team. I believe it is vital Malton should continue to have a maternity unit which is so highly praised.

"The alternative is hard to consider for mothers if they had to travel to Scarborough at difficult and busy times and in bad weather. The travel would also be a hardship for their families and visitors.

"So if you want to keep it you must raise your voices, or, better still, bombard the health authority, councillors and your MP John Greenway with letters. You can't afford not to do this, so get cracking and don't delay!"

Mr Maynard was a big favourite in Heartbeat for ten years until he suffered a major stroke on the set in studio.

He thought he would never work again, but says: "I realised acting is my life and I would quickly fade away without it. Now, I'm in The Royal, all about a hospital struggling to find funds to stay alive - a small community hospital probably like Malton was 30 years ago. I was contracted to do only three episodes and then offered another three, which was wonderful.

"Soon after I had completed them I was offered another strong character role in the BBCs Dalziel and Pascoe, a two-part story. So, I'm back working - and I've even done a voice in a Danish cartoon film and lots of voice-overs in radio commercials.

"Coming back to Malton to open the Motor Show in July 2001 was a wonderful experience for me at a time when I was feeling down, still recovering from the stroke. I arrived to the cheers of thousands of fans - and it was a wonderful tonic, just what I needed at that time. I was delighted to be invited again last year."

Motor Show organiser Steve Smith says Mr Maynard's presence helped to make both annual shows a success, boosting interest in the town and in local business - and raising around £5,000 for the Malton Hospital. Mr Smith said: "Bill is right. We do need to value our hospital more. I would like to see more big events to attract visitors as well as locals and to raise funds to ensure Malton Hospital has the best of equipment. We owe this to doctors, staff and patients."

Updated: 10:07 Wednesday, January 29, 2003