Ealing Labour Party

Cameron plans to close Ealing Hospital

18/5/11

Virendra Sharma, MP for Ealing Southall led a protest outside Ealing Hospital when the Prime Minister David Cameron visited the hospital to give a speech about the government’s plans to reform the NHS. He was joined by Ealing Council leader Julian Bell, Southall Councillors, Trade Unionists and local residents who are campaigning to save Ealing Hospital. Protesters held up placards that said Cameron had plans to close Ealing Hospital. Virendra Sharma explained to patients and staff entering the hospital that earlier leaked plans by NHS London to close Ealing Hospital’s A&E Department were still on the government’s agenda and that recent briefings by outgoing PCT managers to incoming GP fund-holders spoke of a £1bn budget gap in NW London NHS that could only be closed by reconfiguring acute services. Doctors’ leaders understood this to mean Hospital closures and Virendra Sharma explained that all the evidence pointed to a government plan to close Ealing Hospital.  

Speaking at the protest about David Cameron’s speech Virendra Sharma said, “It is a bit of a cheek for David Cameron to come to Ealing Hospital when he is planning to close it. He talks about not taking risks with and protecting the NHS, but by implementing these reforms he will be wasting vital tax payers’ money that could be used to protect frontline health services and hospitals under threat like Ealing. I will stand shoulder to shoulder with local people and the Doctors and nurses to defend Ealing Hospital from Cameron’s plans for its closure. These government reforms of the NHS are dangerous and wrong.”

Leader of Ealing Council Councillor Julian Bell said, “We have known for some time that the government has plans to close Ealing hospital so we will stand with the local community to defend our local hospital. It beggars belief that Cameron can come to Ealing promising to protect the NHS knowing full well that there is a secret plan threatening the hospitals very existence. His reforms are a costly gamble with the NHS that we all love and will fight to protect.”