Last night (Wednesday) Local London Assembly Member Dr Onkar Sahota debated the future of Ealing Hospital with representatives from NHS North West London and other members of the Save Our Hospital Ealing (SOHE) campaign. The campaign is against the closure of the A&E departments at Ealing, Hammersmith, Charing Cross and Central Middlesex hospitals. Once the A&E Departments are closed Ealing Hospital and Charing Cross Hospital will be effectively downgraded to polyclinics, though NHS Managers misleadingly refer to them as "local hospitals".
The debate took place at Ealing Town Hall and was attended by 350 local residents, the future of all four accident and emergency departments that are threatened with closure were discussed. It was chaired by Victoria Macdonald, Channel 4's health and social care correspondent.
The debate followed the successful march on 15th September through Ealing which was attended by thousands of local residents.
Local Labour London Assembly Member, Dr Onkar Sahota said:
“Last night local residents raised real concerns about the planned closures. The way NHS North-West London have behaved is unacceptable, the consultation process has been both ineffective and divisive. Divide and rule on hospital closures is wrong.
"They are pitching hospital against hospital, GPs against GPs and local communities against each other. There was unanimous agreement that residents of Ealing are being hit hardest by these changes. Ealing has some of the highest rates of diabetes, heart disease and TB in London and Southall , where Ealing Hospital is located, is one of the poorest and socially deprived areas of the capital. These plans are simply wrong and ignore the Equality Impact Assessment.
“We are facing unprecedented cuts to the provision of our health care in north-west London. These cuts will affect us all and will put a tremendous amount of pressure on the remaining A&E departments, which are already stretched.
“It was heart-warming to see so many local residents and hospital users there, a number asked: why has the mayor of London remained so silent on this issue? This is the very question I will be raising with the Mayor myself.”
Ends
Notes
1. Dr Onkar Sahota is the Labour London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon