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Thousands expected to protest over plans to shut Lewisham hospital units Thousands expected to protest over plans to shut Lewisham hospital units
(about 9 hours later)
Thousands of people are expected to march through the streets of south-east London on Saturday in protest at "ludicrous and highly dangerous" plans to close the A&E and maternity units at Lewisham hospital. Thousands are expected to march through the streets of south-east London on Saturday in protest at "ludicrous and highly dangerous" plans to close the A&E and maternity units at Lewisham hospital.
A government-appointed administrator has recommended that the units be shut down to help solve the crisis at the nearby, debt-mired South London Healthcare NHS Trust (SLHT). A government-appointed administrator has recommended that the units be shut down to help solve the crisis at the nearby, debt-mired South London Healthcare NHS Trust (SLHT).
But doctors at the hospital have dismissed the scheme as "financial madness". Joan Ruddock, Labour MP for Lewisham Deptford, said relying on other south London hospitals to care for the 125,000 patients who use Lewisham's A&E each year – and the 4,360 women who give birth there – could put them under serious and dangerous strain. But doctors at the hospital have dismissed the scheme as "financial madness". Joan Ruddock, Labour MP for Lewisham Deptford, said relying on other hospitals to care for the 125,000 patients who use Lewisham's A&E department each year – and the 4,360 women who give birth at the hospital – could put them under serious and dangerous strain.
Some 15,000 people protested last November, and the campaign is supported by the archbishop Desmond Tutu – who is reported to have described the plans as "scandalous" – and Millwall FC. Some 15,000 people protested last November, and the campaign is supported by archbishop Desmond Tutu – who has links with the hospital and the area, and is reported to have described the plans as "scandalous" – and Millwall FC.
The Lewisham campaign demonstrates the strength of the opposition that springs up among community groups defending their local NHS units. While nationally there is a debate around closing services to raise the quality of care in other centres, Lewisham's reorganisation is a response to NHS financial difficulties and all the more emotive for that reason. The Lewisham campaign demonstrates the strength of the opposition that springs up among community groups defending their local NHS units. While nationally there is a debate about closing services to raise the quality of care in other centres, Lewisham's reorganisation is a response to NHS financial difficulties and all the more emotive for that reason.
In a statement on its website, Millwall said its FA Cup fourth-round tie against Aston Villa had been moved from Saturday to Friday night to make way for the march, adding: "Millwall Football Club, our players, staff and many thousands of fans have, over the years, had reason to be grateful for the resources, facilities and care we have received from our local hospital. We are not persuaded by the arguments put forward in favour of closing the A&E department, children's ward, intensive care and maternity services at Lewisham."In a statement on its website, Millwall said its FA Cup fourth-round tie against Aston Villa had been moved from Saturday to Friday night to make way for the march, adding: "Millwall Football Club, our players, staff and many thousands of fans have, over the years, had reason to be grateful for the resources, facilities and care we have received from our local hospital. We are not persuaded by the arguments put forward in favour of closing the A&E department, children's ward, intensive care and maternity services at Lewisham."
Millwall players warmed up for last Saturday's game against Burnley in T-shirts reading: "Save Lewisham A&E," and the club has encouraged its supporters to join Saturday's demonstration. Millwall players warmed up for last Saturday's game against Burnley in T-shirts reading "Save Lewisham A&E", and the club has encouraged its supporters to join Saturday's demonstration.
Ruddock said the fight to save the hospital was the biggest campaign she had seen in her 25 years as an MP. "This is the local hospital and local people depend on it. The journey time to any of the other hospitals is at least an hour – especially to the one they want to substitute in Woolwich. Most people bring themselves or their children to Lewisham hospital by bus or on foot and the idea that there is nothing on your doorstep that can safely deal with the everyday traumas that people encounter in their lives is absolutely terrifying."Ruddock said the fight to save the hospital was the biggest campaign she had seen in her 25 years as an MP. "This is the local hospital and local people depend on it. The journey time to any of the other hospitals is at least an hour – especially to the one they want to substitute in Woolwich. Most people bring themselves or their children to Lewisham hospital by bus or on foot and the idea that there is nothing on your doorstep that can safely deal with the everyday traumas that people encounter in their lives is absolutely terrifying."
Ruddock said the proposals put before the government by the trust's special administrator, Matthew Kershaw, would end up rewarding the SLHT for its failure and punishing Lewisham hospital for its success. Ruddock said the proposals put to the government by the trust's special administrator, Matthew Kershaw, would end up rewarding the SLHT for its failure and punishing Lewisham hospital for its success.
"This is the economics of the madhouse," she said. "We're all up in arms about it and we will be demonstrating in huge numbers.""This is the economics of the madhouse," she said. "We're all up in arms about it and we will be demonstrating in huge numbers."
She added that while she did not dispute that national savings had to be made, she was at a loss to understand the rationale behind the proposals. She added that while she did not dispute that national savings had to be made, she was at a loss to understand the rationale behind the proposals. "This is a national service and the problems of the finance of this one failing trust need to be sorted out from a national base. It's impossible to take this one hospital in isolation and then pick on a neighbouring one and say: 'That is where we will take out finance from.' That makes no sense."
"This is a national service and the problems of the finance of this one failing trust need to be sorted out from a national base. It's impossible to take this one hospital in isolation and then pick on a neighbouring one and say: 'That is where we will take out finance from.' That makes no sense." Jos Bell, a spokeswoman for the campaign, said the plans were "nothing short of ludicrous and are highly dangerous", and that the march's organisers were expecting demonstrators from far beyond the local area.
Jos Bell, a spokeswoman for the campaign, said the march's organisers were expecting demonstrators from far beyond the south London borough. "People are travelling into London from south of London to join us, and other boroughs are joining us because it's not just a Lewisham problem. This is about the NHS. If Lewisham goes then the whole of south-east London's health services will be really very affected," she said.
"People are travelling into London from south of London to join us, and other boroughs are joining us because it's not just a Lewisham problem. This is about the NHS. If Lewisham goes then the whole of south-east London's health services will be really very affected." Bell added: "We're delighted that Millwall and Archbishop Tutu have felt moved to support Lewisham hospital and speak out so strongly; it's not just a few disgruntled people who live in a couple of streets near the hospital."
The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has until 1 February to endorse or reject the plans.The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has until 1 February to endorse or reject the plans.