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| Lewisham Hospital: Protest against closure plan | Lewisham Hospital: Protest against closure plan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of people are demonstrating against proposals to close services at a hospital in south London. | |
| Organisers campaigning to save Lewisham Hospital say 15,000 people are expected to take part in the march. | Organisers campaigning to save Lewisham Hospital say 15,000 people are expected to take part in the march. |
| Under proposals, its A&E will close and the maternity unit downgraded after the neighbouring South London Healthcare NHS Trust ran up debts of £150m. | Under proposals, its A&E will close and the maternity unit downgraded after the neighbouring South London Healthcare NHS Trust ran up debts of £150m. |
| The government is to make its decision on the trust and the hospital on Friday. | The government is to make its decision on the trust and the hospital on Friday. |
| The trust, which runs three hospitals, was placed in administration last year when it started losing about £1.3m a week. | The trust, which runs three hospitals, was placed in administration last year when it started losing about £1.3m a week. |
| Broken up | Broken up |
| Matthew Kershaw, a special administrator, said in a report to the government that the trust should be broken up, with other organisations taking over the management and delivery of services. | Matthew Kershaw, a special administrator, said in a report to the government that the trust should be broken up, with other organisations taking over the management and delivery of services. |
| If implemented fully, Mr Kershaw said his recommendations would result in a radical overhaul of services in south London, and help deliver "safe, high-quality, affordable and sustainable services." | If implemented fully, Mr Kershaw said his recommendations would result in a radical overhaul of services in south London, and help deliver "safe, high-quality, affordable and sustainable services." |
| Mr Kershaw also recommended the Department of Health (DoH) write off any debts to ensure new organisations were not "saddled with the issues of the past". | Mr Kershaw also recommended the Department of Health (DoH) write off any debts to ensure new organisations were not "saddled with the issues of the past". |
| "I have said consistently that the status quo is not an option, and I believe these final, refined recommendations are the right ones, although I appreciate that some people will find them difficult to accept," his report said. | "I have said consistently that the status quo is not an option, and I believe these final, refined recommendations are the right ones, although I appreciate that some people will find them difficult to accept," his report said. |
| Long-standing problems | Long-standing problems |
| In November thousands of people marched in protest at the plans which would involve the closure of maternity and A&E services at Lewisham hospital. | In November thousands of people marched in protest at the plans which would involve the closure of maternity and A&E services at Lewisham hospital. |
| Campaigners are angry that services at Lewisham, which is not part of the trust and is financially sound, are being targeted in order to make savings at a neighbouring trust. | Campaigners are angry that services at Lewisham, which is not part of the trust and is financially sound, are being targeted in order to make savings at a neighbouring trust. |
| Under the plans the Queen Elizabeth Hospital site in Woolwich would come together with Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust to create a new organisation providing care for the communities of Greenwich and Lewisham. | Under the plans the Queen Elizabeth Hospital site in Woolwich would come together with Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust to create a new organisation providing care for the communities of Greenwich and Lewisham. |
| The Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough, near Bromley, would be acquired by King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. | The Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough, near Bromley, would be acquired by King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. |
| Local GP Dr Helen Tattersfield, from the Save Lewisham Hospital group, said: "If the government can close down Lewisham Hospital then no successful hospital in the country is safe." | Local GP Dr Helen Tattersfield, from the Save Lewisham Hospital group, said: "If the government can close down Lewisham Hospital then no successful hospital in the country is safe." |
| Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he understood the concerns of people who would be affected by the proposals and would consider the report carefully. | Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he understood the concerns of people who would be affected by the proposals and would consider the report carefully. |
| A DoH spokesman said: "Where trusts face long-standing problems we have been clear that doing nothing is not an option." | A DoH spokesman said: "Where trusts face long-standing problems we have been clear that doing nothing is not an option." |
| The march will go past Lewisham Hospital and end with a festival in nearby Mountsfield Park. | The march will go past Lewisham Hospital and end with a festival in nearby Mountsfield Park. |