A protest march and rally will be held this month over plans to cut hospital services in Ealing.

It's part of the Save Our Hospitals campaign to fight NHS proposals which include downgrading Ealing Hospital to a ‘local hospital’, stripping it of nine of the 11 major types of service currently provided on-site, including the A&E.

The proposals are part of a major restructure of NHS services in North West London which, if agreed, would see almost half of the hospitals in the region suffering a similar fate. Under the preferred option Charing Cross Hospital would also be downgraded to a local hospital, losing the same services as Ealing. Central Middlesex Hospital, which has already had its A&E unit reduced to a daytime only service, would see the unit close permanently and it would also lose its intensive care unit. Hammersmith Hospital would no longer have major hospital status and would instead become a specialist hospital.

The protest march on September 15th, will start at both Southall Park and Acton Park and meet for a rally at Ealing Common.

Council leader Julian Bell said: “If these plans go ahead they will leave thousands of people without local access to essential services including A&Es, intensive care, maternity and paediatric units, while those with chronic conditions will have to travel further for regular treatment.

“We want to show NHS bosses that it is not acceptable to put financial considerations before people and this march and rally is a great opportunity for residents to come together to demonstrate their outrage at these plans.”

The march from Southall will meet at Southall Park at 10am and leave at 11am to travel past Ealing Hospital, through Hanwell and along New Broadway to Ealing Common.

The march from Acton will meet at Acton Park at 11am and will leave at 12pm and travel along The Vale and Acton High Street to Ealing Common. The rally will then begin at Ealing Common at 1pm with speeches and live music.

All political parties on Ealing Council oppose the proposals and councillors are urging anyone who lives or works in the borough to get behind the campaign to Save Our Hospitals by signing a petition and responding to the NHS consultation.

A NHS ‘Shaping a healthier future’ consultation roadshow is also taking place on Tuesday, 11 September at Ealing Town Hall where residents can ask questions and have their say on proposals. Visit www.ealing.gov.uk/soh for more information.

 

4th September 2012