‘We have to do everything to save this hospital,’ out-patient Farzaeh Yegan told News Line at the North East London Council of Action monthly mass picket of Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield on Tuesday.
Passing motorists hooted their horns and hospital workers, patients and visitors said they will be taking part in the march through Enfield called for June 6th to stop the closure of the hospital’s A&E, Maternity and Paediatrics departments.
Occupational health worker Fuad Bhukhim told News Line: ‘These cut backs are wrong.
‘They are going to put people out of work and discredit the service we are offering the public.
‘We have to stop them, by protests. I’ll support sitting in the hospital to keep it functioning, to provide a day-to-day service.’
Social worker Edith Okecha said: ‘We have to fight the closures.
‘We need this hospital for the community.
‘Think of people who have heart attacks and strokes – where will they go if there is nowhere in Enfield?’
Security officer Emmanuel Owusu added: ‘What they are doing is wrong.
‘It’s a big neighbourhood. If something is wrong they have to change it and keep the hospital running, not close it.
‘We need a hospital with all its facilities in Enfield.
‘I support taking action to stop the closure, including occupation.’
Out-patient Joseph Gibney, a carpenter, said: ‘It’s a disgrace what they are planning.
‘People need an A&E. You can’t have people going to Barnet or North Middlesex (hospitals).
‘If someone has a heart attack or stroke, their life could be at risk.
‘Time is of the essence in cases like that.
‘We have to take action to stop the closure.
‘I’d support an occupation, whatever action is needed to keep the hospital open.
‘I’ll be marching on June 6th.’
Local resident Jackie Grant said: ‘I don’t want Chase Farm to go.
‘They are shutting all the hospitals. They need to open more, not close them.
‘I’ll march and support a sit-in, anything to make it stay open.’
Another local resident, Karen added: ‘Personally, I think they are doing what they did at Highlands, which was sold off for real estate.
‘I worked here, it’s a lovely hospital. My daughter was born here. We have to save it.
‘I agree with having a sit-in. I’ll come on the march.’
Pharmacist Brinal Patel told News Line: ‘It’s wrong to close the A&E.
‘It’s inconvenient for everyone to have to go to Barnet. I don’t know the reason behind it.
‘They are trying to rationalise services.
‘We have to stop the closure.’
Local teacher Davina Uppiah said: ‘I’m having physiotherapy after a car accident.
‘It’s disgusting what they are planning.
‘It means people having to go to Barnet Hospital.
‘We need a local hospital. If you go to Barnet it is always crowded.
‘Imagine what it would be like if more patients are sent there.
‘I support taking action to stop the closure, including occupying the hospital. I’ll march on June 6th.’
Local resident Anne Sophie Le Gohebel said: ‘My son was in the A&E on Saturday evening because he had a high temperature.
‘I was glad there was an A&E nearby. I am not happy about the plans to close the A&E, it’s really bad.
‘I will come on the demonstration. We have to stop the closure.
‘I would support an occupation, we have to do everything possible to keep the hospital open.’
Out-patient Matteo Burso asked: ‘How is it that the population has doubled over the past 40 years yet hospital provision has halved?
‘Barnet is already overcrowded and access to the hospital there is a disgrace.
‘This hospital was supposed to have a new building 20 years ago. Money was set aside but the new hospital never materialised.
‘The situation this community is facing is an utter disgrace, for the suggestion to close the A&E and maternity.
‘I want to see the whole of the hospital kept open. I don’t want them to close any part of it.
‘We have to do everything we can to stop the closure.
‘I will come on the march and I support people occupying the hospital.’
Louise Baker from Medical Records said: ‘The plans are worrying.
‘My mother was taken ill and if she didn’t have this A&E she would have died.
‘Closing the A&E it would be bad for Enfield.
‘I’ll support a sit-in to keep it open.’
Elaine Rockall from Cheshunt told News Line: ‘We’re going to the A&E because my son may have broken his wrist.
‘It’s appalling what is being planned.
‘People who need A&E and other services will have to travel two or three times the distance.
‘They are just putting profit before people’s lives.
‘Enfield Council are taking the coward’s way out, they’ve abandoned the people of Enfield.
‘We have to fight the closure.
‘I agree with sitting in to keep the hospital open.
‘I will come to the march on June 6th and bring my family.’
Pat, a pensioner, said: ‘It’s heartbreaking. They don’t listen to the people.
‘The plan for this hospital is desecration.
‘My husband has a heart condition and they would have him go to Barnet.
‘We insisted we would remain here.
‘I have a friend who has been treated for breast cancer for the past five years.
‘She has lymphademia which is incurable but can be treated to limit its effect.
‘She has to go to the hospital every day but she doesn’t have a car and she can’t get to the Lister in Stevenage or the QEII in Welwyn who have specialist nurses.
‘We have to do everything to save Chase Farm.
‘I’ll support a sit-in to keep it open. Other people would have the same problem as my husband or my friend if it closed.’
Local resident Hazel Morley added angrily: ‘It’s disgusting.
‘If they get an accident at this end of the M25 how are they going to get them to Barnet before they die or have serious complications?
‘I don’t think the government realise how crucial the A&E is here.
‘It all boils down to money at the end of the day.
‘How are the elderly and the disabled going to cope if they decide to privatise?
‘All these MPs, once they get there, they don’t do what they say they are going to do.
‘We have to take action. The workers and the public have got to take action.
‘We’ve had petitions and they don’t listen. If they did, they wouldn’t be closing the A&E and maternity.
‘I’ll support an occupation. The unions should back that all the way with strike action if necessary.
‘It’s not the staff, it’s the government that is the problem.’
Visitor Emine Hussein said: ‘This is a lovely hospital. I gave birth to both my sons here. It’s such a shame to close it down.
‘My mum is in the hospital at the moment. She had a very big operation.
‘She likes the hospital, the nurses are very nice and the doctors are brilliant. She is recovering really well.
‘We have to do our best to save Chase Farm.
‘We have to do whatever we have to do to keep it open.
‘I’d support an occupation, the unions should take action to defend it.’
North East Council of Action Secretary Bill Rogers told News Line: ‘We are having a good picket.
‘It’s the first one in our campaign for the demonstration on June 6th through Enfield.
‘The response we are getting is tremendous.
‘People have expressed their anger at the rottenness in the House of Commons at a time when they are planning to make huge cuts in the NHS, especially at Chase Farm.
‘We are campaigning among the trade unions to get more support for our June 6th march.
‘We hope to see thousands of workers marching with us to defend the A&E, Maternity and Paediatrics at Chase Farm.
‘These same thousands will support an occupation because this is the only way to guarantee victory.’
