HEALTH workers, trade unionists and local residents spoke out in support of the policy of occupying Ealing Hospital to stop the closure on the eve of the mass march from Southall Park to Ealing Common in west London today.
North West London NHS plans to close the Accident and Emergency Departments and other departments at Ealing, Central Middlesex, Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals, maybe before the end of the year.
Manal Elsiddig, BMA member and Associate Specialist in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care at Ealing Hospital, said: ‘This hospital is essential for a very large community – the nearest hospital to the Southall and Ealing communities.
‘We have got a very good Intensive Care which has very good results, there are a lot in and out of the A&E and more than 3,000 deliveries a year in the Maternity. The whole community would be really badly affected if Ealing closed down.
‘The trade unions should take action. There are a lot of people who work at the hospital – doctors, nurses, hcas and the unions have a duty of care for those under their umbrella. We are in a recession and if they close the hospital, these people are going to be in redundancy or jobless.
‘The hospital must be defended. I feel so emotional about it. I’ve worked there for seven years and would hate to see it close. The people of Ealing want their hospital. Keep Ealing open!’
Abdul Chughti, Unite Rep at Greenford Bus Garage, representing 370 members, said: ‘We will go all the way with Ealing Hospital workers, including industrial action and occupation if need be.
‘In our branch at Greenford Garage all our members are completely against the closure of Ealing Hospital. It is needed. The whole community needs the hospital. These sorts of things are very, very important. Whatever we are asked to do we will do it.
‘The trade unions should take any action that is required. We must stop this closure at all costs, whatever happens.’
Muhammad Javid Awan, CWU Deputy Area Postal Rep at Greenford Mail Centre, said: ‘We have 1,800 members at this mail centre, most living in Ealing, Southall and Harrow and all of them relying on Ealing Hospital.
‘We fully support the fight against closure. It is absolutely essential we keep the hospital open.
‘We fully support whatever action is necessary to save the hospital. If it comes to it, strike action would be taken – how else can we fight.
‘If they are telling us they are closing four of our Accident and Emergency Departments, then whatever we have to do, including occupation, we must do. The hospital must be saved.’
Bill Rogers, Secretary of the North East London Council of Action said: ‘We are totally opposed to these cuts and we fully support the fight to stop the closure of Ealing Hospital.
‘What led to the setting up of our Council of Action was the threat to Whipps Cross, North Middlesex and Chase Farm Hospitals, which were all threatened with cuts and closures.
‘Our Aslef Branch at Chingford was opposed to what was going on and we voted for the setting up of the North East London Council of Action. This was over five years ago. When we set it up we called for the occupation of Chase Farm to defeat these cuts.
‘At Chase Farm they are planning the closure of the Accident and Emergency Department, the Maternity Unit and the Paediatrics Unit, the same as they are planning at Ealing.
‘The Council of Action has held a daily picket of Chase Farm since January 9th and as soon as they try to close any of these departments down, we’re going to occupy.
‘What’s going on in Ealing is the same as what’s going on at Chase Farm.
‘We’re holding a conference on 23rd of September which we would invite all who are fighting the closure of Ealing Hospital to come to.
‘If they are allowed to close A&Es it puts hospitals on the slippery slope to closure.’
Colin Standfield, Chair of Ealing SOS (Save Our Services) said: ‘This hospital serves a population of 350,000 people.
‘It is widely used by many who are disadvantaged because of deprivation, many of them do not have English as a first language.
‘Ealing Hospital has worked very hard and been recognised for its ability to communicate with these disadvantaged groups.
‘After the march, we will continue to get people to involve themselves in the consultancy questionaire; of course it’s a sham, but it’s the only thing they say they are prepared to listen to.
‘I haven’t got as far as thinking of occupying but it’s certainly a possibility, although things have not yet got that far.
‘The consultation closes on 8th October, though they have said they might extend it.
‘The three options are a sham, because the consultation does not allow anyone to express an opinion on the status quo, which should always be an option.
‘None of the options is acceptable because each one involves the closure of four A&Es.
‘We are trying to mobilise as many people as possible to wake up to what is happening. Too many people don’t understand that the A&Es are under threat and too many people are accepting the spin generated by nhs North West London.
‘We are working with Unite, the GMB and Unison on the Save our Hospitals Ealing Committee, that is a committee chaired by Dr Onkar Sahota, who is both a local GP and GLA member, and that includes trade unions, trades unions councils, councillors from all parties on Ealing council, hospital consultants and local activists and Ealing SOS.
‘If it comes to it, we will need to take whatever action is necessary to stop the closure, including strike action.’
Local mum, Lucy Kiio, who lives in Northolt, told News Line: ‘When my son got knocked over he went straight to Ealing. My nephew has allergy problems and Ealing is the only one that knows him. It gets so busy on Fridays and Saturdays. If it wasn’t open, where would we go?
‘I would be prepared to occupy to stop the closure. The A&E must not close, otherwise the rest of the hospital will close, department after department.
‘The trade unions must put their foot down. We need a general strike, everybody out.
‘We’ve got to get rid of this government, nobody supports them. Look at the Olympics, everybody booed them, Cameron, Osborne, May. They’re just puppets. They’re not living like ordinary people.
They were just born with the silver spoon in their mouth.’
Gate Gourmet sacked worker Jaswinder Kumar said: ‘We’ve got more and more rush, so many people, families, living in this area. If they close this hospital where will we go?
‘The trade unions have got lots of members. They have the power. They must call a general strike.
‘This government is not doing any good for the people. The unions must call a general strike, all together, and change everything.
‘We must get rid of this government, they are harming old people, they are taking away our pensions, they are privatising the NHS.
‘The trade union leaders are talking a lot, but they are not doing anything.
‘Look at what they did to us at Gate Gourmet. We are an example. They made a lot of speeches but then they did nothing. They just left us. But we are still fighting them and we will fight to the end.
‘We need to do whatever is necessary to defend Ealing Hospital.
‘We should all get together and show our solidarity to make clear they are not going to get away with it. We must occupy to keep it open.’