Elections 2005

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Bullion calls for a debate on hospital provision in the borough
Hands: “I will lead the fight to save Charing Cross Hospital”

"There are no plans to close Charing Cross Hospital", says Small

Labour candidate Melanie Small:

"There are no plans whatsoever to close Charing Cross Hospital"

From our Forum:

"Just to reassure residents who have read the recent media stories about Charing Cross - I’ve spoken to both John Reid the Secretary of State for Health and Derek Smith the Chief Executive of the NHS Trust and they have both told me that there are no plans whatsoever to close Charing Cross Hospital.  In fact we have been discussing how we can modernise the site." 

 

LibDem Parliamentary Candidate Alan Bullion: Hammersmith Hospitals Trust must act in an open and transparent way

Amid national press report that Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust may be considering the closure of Charing Cross Hospital, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Alan Bullion and the Liberal Democrats said that the debate over the future of local health provision should be open and transparent.

"There has been no public discussion of closing Charing Cross and moving treatment to a new 'superhospital' at the Hammersmith hospital site, potentially taking in part of Wormwood Scrubs. We need an open debate over what sort of health facilities are required, not decisions taken in private behind closed doors", Bullion.

The Lib Dems want to see shorter waiting times, cleaner hospitals and improved personal care for patients. This involves better access to quality healthcare, closer to home, as well as preventative measures to keep people healthy, such as improved meals and dietary provision.

"It is scandalous that NHS managers were hoping they would not have to disclose the closure proposal until after the general election," said Alan Bullion. "What we need is full consideration of the options for future health provision across Hammersmith and Fulham."

Conservative candidate Greg Hands:

“I will lead the fight to save Charing Cross Hospital”

Following media reports this weekend that Labour are secretly planning to close the Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith & Fulham, merging with Hammersmith Hospital, local Conservative candidate, Greg Hands, has pledged to lead the campaign to save the hospital.

Greg, also a member of the "Friends of Charing Cross Hospital" fundraising group, has spent today (Sunday 10 April 2005) on the phone with a number of consultants and other senior staff at the Fulham Palace Road based Hospital. Fears are high that this closure may be the “Longbridge of West London”, with hundreds of jobs potentially under threat.

Greg believes that the planned closure of Charing Cross Hospital and also Ravenscourt Park Hospital is the result of financial bungling in West London Primary Care Trusts caused by the Labour target culture.

It is also clear that the rationale behind such plans is not being driven by clinical considerations. The Trust is a 3-star rated service.

It is also understood from sources within the hospital that one of the other drivers of the move is the cash-strapped Imperial College Medical School, which wants to save costs by moving more of its instruction onto the one site.

The previous proposal to close the Charing Cross, as part of the 1992 Tomlinson Report, was defeated by lobbying from Greg's predecessor, Matthew Carrington, together with Professor Roger Greenhalgh and other leading figures at the hospital.

Commenting, Greg said: “I know our local hospitals well. I have been treated in the Charing Cross. My father has been treated in Hammersmith Hospital. My late brother, a long-term cancer patient, has had numerous operations in both. I am absolutely committed to improving our NHS hospitals and am appalled that Labour could even consider closing Charing Cross Hospital.

“Just as Matthew Carrington fought to save the hospital in the early 1990s, I will fight to save Charing Cross Hospital today. Moving services to Hammersmith Hospital would undoubtedly see cuts in the level of service offered to local people.

“Equally, the Charing Cross Hospital site is highly accessible to the public - just off the A4 by road, with great tube and bus links. Hammersmith Hospital is very badly connected - especially for people living in the south of the borough.

“Whilst the Charing Cross Hospital closure might make sense for NHS administration and cost cutting, it makes no sense for a large public hospital.

“Also, if the press reports are true - that Hammersmith Hospitals Chief Executive, Derek Smith, announced the proposal to hospital staff, and then added he wanted it kept under wraps until the General Election is out of the way, there is no doubt in my mind that he should resign.

“Mr Smith also flatly turned down a proposal by Michael Howard to visit the Charing Cross Hospital just one month ago.”

Hammersmith & Fulham residents wanting to back Greg’s campaign to save the Charing Cross Hospital should email him at savecharingx@greghands.com or write to him at his Campaign Headquarters: 4 Greyhound Road, London W6 8NX.

April 17, 2005