Big Turnout for Meeting on Charing Cross Plans
Including actress Vanessa Redgrave calling for a judicial review
A public meeting to debate NHS plans to axe the A&E and other services at Charing Cross Hospital attracted more than 100 local residents and campaigners, including actress and local resident Vanessa Redgrave, who called for a judicicial review of the plans.
The meeting, called by Hammersmith & Fulham Council, saw a packed room addressed by H&F Council Leader Stephen Cowan, alongside Dr Stephen Hirst, a former local GP, and Dr John Lister of London Health Emergency.
Both Dr Hirst and Dr Lister sat on the Independent Healthcare Commission – chaired by Michael Mansfield QC – which last December published a landmark report describing NHS North West London’s plans for closures as ‘deeply flawed’ that should be ‘halted immediately’.
Campaigners from the Save Our Hospitals campaign joined local residents from H&F and neighbouring boroughs for two hours of presentations, questions and lively debate. There was also a screening of the new Charing Cross Hospital campaign video, which you can watch online here.
If the local NHS plans go ahead, the majority of services at Hammersmith’s Charing Cross Hospital will close, including the A&E.
" The review provides indisputable evidence that these changes to local health services are badly planned, hugely costly and causing life-threatening failures in local healthcare," said Cllr Cowan.
" The only right decision is to put a halt to them right now."
You can see more pictures from the meeting on H&F Council's Flickr Gallery.
March 4, 2016
