UP TO 5,000 workers and local residents marched in west London against the closures of Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals on Saturday.
The angry demonstration assembled at Shepherds Bush Green at 12 noon before marching past Charing Cross Hospital to a rally at the Lillie Road Recreation Ground in Fulham.
Saturday’s march came three weeks after the march through Ealing against the closure of two other local District General Hospitals – Ealing and Central Middlesex.
As marchers were assembling they spoke to News Line.
‘Charing Cross saved my daughter’s life,’ said Andrew Frederick. ‘She was born three months premature at Charing Cross and she was saved by the nurses. The NHS is a wonderful, unique service and Charing Cross is an essential part of it.’
Guy Stroud, from Greenford, who was also on the Ealing march, said: ‘I’m dead against the way they are trying to dismantle our NHS and I support occupying. Unless there is direct action they’re just going to steam ahead. The trade unions must up the ante and organise a general strike.’
Jo Booty, from Ealing Unison, said: ‘The so-called consultation was not real. The physically disabled people I work with didn’t know anything about it. They were unaware of the consultation document, or the deadline to respond by 8th October, or the enormity of the changes in prospect.
‘I am very anxious about the future. It’s going to be very difficult for people who are already marginalised, and that worries me. We’ve got to save our hospitals. The unions should group together.’
Local mum Charmane Low said: ‘I live very close to Charing Cross, right by it and if it closes then they are putting people’s lives at risk. That’s not right. I would definitely support occupying.
Paz Bello, a Unison member and domestic worker at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington, bought her ticket for the News Line Anniversary Rally on 28th October, saying: ‘We’ve got to save our hospitals. Our unions must fight to stop the closures.’
Donia Vahidi also bought her ticket for the News Line rally, saying: ‘I don’t want my hospitals to close. I’ve got health problems and sometimes my GP sends me to Charing Cross and sometimes to Hammersmith. Those hospitals are close to me. I don’t have a car and can’t travel long distances. I like the idea of occupying to stop closure.’
Then the march set off.
Briony Rutherford, an NUT member and primary school teacher in Hammersmith told News Line: ‘I’m disgusted with the pension age rise and the extension of our working life.’
She continued: ‘A&E services are vital. They must be saved. Not only should they not be cut, they should be increased.’
Maria Pareira, who marched all the way, told News Line: ‘I’m 82-years-old next Tuesday. I worked at Charing Cross for eight years. I’m Portuguese. I’m very nervous about my Charing Cross. It must never close. Never!’
It was a lively demonstration with many marching behind the Hammersmith Young Socialists ‘Defend the NHS’ banner, and hundreds joining in their slogans: ‘No Hospital Closures! Occupy Now!’ and ‘Defend the NHS! Kick this government out!’
There were many GMB, Unison and Unite banners on the march.
David Bird, a bus driver out of Victoria Bus Station, told News Line: ‘I live just round the corner from Charing Cross. Any cuts in the NHS have to be fought, but particularly in this area because of its geographical layout.
‘There are two east/west trunk routes. Any traffic incident and the whole area would be heavily congested. That means even if you’ve got a blue light you can’t go anywhere. Of course there are also more traffic accidents here. I believe this is the most densely populated area of London. I’m for all action to defend the NHS and kick the government out.’
Local resident Simon Hope said: ‘I know it’s not meant to be a political campaign, but it’s completely political as far as I’m concerned.
‘It’s the Tories doing everything for their rich friends. I remember the riots in the 1980s under Thatcher. And the same thing is coming back, but more so with this right-wing government.’
Arriving at Lillie Road rec, Carlo Nero chaired the rally.
Introducing it, he said: ‘148,000 will not be receiving care under these proposals. The consultation procedure is completely rigged. We must resist it. There have been 247,000 treated per A&E before the closure. After the closure it will be 395,000. We must stop this. This is like a dictatorial regime’s propaganda.
‘With the cutting and closure of the A&E units all hell will break loose. But then the private health providers will creep in. Do we want Virgin, Circle or Serco to take over our NHS? Do We!?’
‘NO!’ came the enthusiastic response.’
The first speaker was Dr Onkar Sahota, Chair of Ealing Save Our Hospital Campaign, and recently elected as anti-hospital closure London Assembly Member for the area. He said: ‘Cameron, you can hide, but we’re coming after you. Jeremy Hunt showed his true colours yesterday. This is not the reconfiguration of the NHS, it is the butchery of the NHS!’
Community Matron Ann Drinkle was next. She said: ‘This whole thing is being driven by budgets and money. Budget cuts are happening within the NHS now. The community will not be able to cope with these closures. Privatisation is already happening. Richard Branson has already got his fingers in, so have Serco and Circle.’
Carlo Nero then read out greetings to the rally from celebrities Bill Bailey, Trevor Nunn, Ralph Fiennes, Sheila Hancock, Ian McKellan and Vanessa Redgrave.
The last speakers were Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith and Fulham, who said: ‘We don’t accept their phony consultation and we don’t accept their decision next April to close the four A&Es,’ and NUT General Secretary Christine Blower, who said: ‘I’m here to bring you the support of the National Union of Teachers, but I’m also a local resident and I pledge the NUT will be with this campaign all the way through.’
At the end of the rally, Southall resident Charles Marrington warned: ‘Lots of people have got private or semi-private dentists and know what that’s like and how expensive it is. But under the government’s plans all GPs will be banded together into limited companies who will not accept credit cards or cheques. Cash only. This will be worse than dentists, much worse.’
Diana Belshaw, Chair of the Gibbs Green Tenants and Residents Association, told News Line: ‘It’s been a great march, fantastic. The support is immense. The local community is very concerned about where they’ll go if Charing Cross goes. The journey to St Mary’s or Chelsea and Westminster is horrendous.
‘I think occupying to stop closure is a good idea. That’s what they’re planning at Chase Farm and we need to do the same. We need a Council of Action to organise it. It’s got to be structured and it’s very urgent.’
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