Help us save services at Charing Cross Hospital

A protest in support of Charing Cross Hospital

An urgent public meeting has been called by Hammersmith & Fulham Council to debate NHS plans to axe the A&E and other services at Charing Cross Hospital.

The meeting will be held at Hammersmith Town Hall on Tuesday 23 February, where H&F Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Cowan, will be joined by 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 which was formed by H&F Council and the neighbouring boroughs of Ealing, Brent, Hounslow and Harrow to review the proposed changes.

The commission – chaired by esteemed lawyer Michael Mansfield QC – issued its final report last December, with Mr Mansfield describing NHS North West London’s plans as ‘deeply flawed’ and said they should be ‘halted immediately’.

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 read more about the commission’s findings here.

Join the fight! The meeting starts at 7.30pm in the Small Hall at Hammersmith Town Hall, with light refreshments served from 7pm.

The meeting will be chaired by Cllr Vivienne Lukey, H&F Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Nivene Powell by email Nivene.Powell@lbhf.gov.uk or call 020 8753 4342.

Health Secretary must ‘end his silence’ as A&E crisis deepens»

» Send us your comments now

I am in complete agreement with Councillor Cowan''s Statement that the plans to destroy one of the best hospitals in West London should be stopped forthwith. NHS London must have regard to the powerful evidence presented to the IHC (chaired by Michael Mansfield QC) that the proposed changes will be deeply damaging to the Healthcare provision in West London

From George Vasdekys on 14/02/2016 at 13:21

I have lived at Holyport Road, SW6 6LY for 30 years and A&E at Charing Cross Hospital has, literally, saved my life once and treated me for severe cuts twice. Each time I have had to wait 4 hours - which is fine - but it does suggest that it would be a disaster for it not to exist?? I think the people who are wanting to close Charing Cross A&E will be putting peoples lives at risk in in the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.

From Olivia Heywood on 13/02/2016 at 15:20

I am appalled at the proposals to diminish the health services at Charing Cross Hospital. It is after all a relatively new hospital and the number of people depending on it has risen considerably in the last few years with the increase in population.

I personally make regular use of both the Auditary and Urology Departments and as I am 89 and not very mobile where will I go?

From ditto on 13/02/2016 at 11:35

I would like to attend to n this night

From wendyl on 12/02/2016 at 19:17

One of the reasons why it was recommended that the A&E at Charing X should be closed was that there were not sufficient consultants to adequately staff all the NW London A&Es. With the treatment of the doctors, this shortage is likely to get worse. Our council needs to get a grip on reality.

From Chris Birch on 12/02/2016 at 17:25

Away on 23rd. 

Would like to support opposition to closing CX or Ham. Hospitals. Both hospitals essential to the community. 

Please advice. 

Replay from the council: Sorry to hear you can't come and thank you for commenting. Your online support is appreciated and we'll let you know about any other opportunities to have your say as they come up.

From TR on 12/02/2016 at 16:41

Getting rid of A&E at Charring Cross Hospital would be irresponsible and is unacceptable to Hammersmith and Fulham residents. 

Any alternative hospitals to Charring Cross Hospital would be much further away from the Hammersmith area. As we know the traffic situation around Hammersmith at most times of the day and early evenings is at gridlock, this would put lives at risk as time is a major factor for a hospital emergency. 

From gibson on 12/02/2016 at 16:26

As a resident of Fulham in Wardo Avenue, I am horrified that we are likely to lose the services, particularly A&E, at Charing Cross Hospital. We have already lost the Fulham Police Station, as an emergency service locally. I appreciate that cuts may be necessary in the Council''s services but believe, like my neighbours, that this should not happen to emergency services. Having recently experienced the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital A&E , this is already stretched to its limits, and thus cannot cope with more. Many of the residents of this local authority would rather pay a little more on Council tax than have these essential services cut. It impacts enormously on the community. The councillors,voted to represent the residents, should use all endeavours to ensure that we retain Charing Cross - we don't all have the financial/physical means to travel distances to go further afield.

Reply from the council: We share you view. It's not the council that is cutting hospital services. We're the ones standing alongside local people arguing against the closures. The NHS budget is determined by the government, not us.

From Clarissa Ward on 12/02/2016 at 13:48

Thursday 11 February 2016

http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/News/Help_us_save_services_at_Charing_Cross_Hospital.asp?dm_t=0,0,0,0,0