Chase Farm Mass Picket

0
1506
A section of yesterday’s picket to keep open closure-threatened Chase Farm hospital in north London
A section of yesterday’s picket to keep open closure-threatened Chase Farm hospital in north London

SUPPORT for the occupation of Chase Farm Hospital is growing as more and more residents and staff support the picket against its closure.

Passing motorists constantly honked their horns in support of yesterday’s latest picket outside the hospital in Enfield.

And patients, hospital staff and local residents stopped to join in.

Bill Rogers, secretary of the North East London Council of Action, said: ‘We’re having a good start to the picket today.

‘We had a successful conference on October 1st, where we had a unanimous vote to occupy Chase Farm to stop the closure.

‘We have received a lot of support locally for our plans to march and occupy Chase Farm Hospital.

‘When we speak to people about occupations in Rome, or in New York, or in all the city centres, we find that occupation is on everybody’s lips.

‘The plans of the North East London Council of Action have become very popular.

‘For four years we have insisted on the strategy of occupying and more and more people are coming round to our way of thinking.

‘We are having a meeting next Tuesday at St Michael’s church hall at 7.30pm and we want trade unionists, local workers and youth to attend.

‘Also, put December 10 into your diaries and join our mass march and demonstration through Enfield town.’

Mrs Roskilly, a civil servant, said: ‘This is a great community facility and it is important to keep it open.’

Adeola Adeosun, an accountant at Chase Farm, said: ‘As far as I’m concerned, Chase Farm must be kept open for the local community as otherwise the patients would have to move elsewhere to receive the necessary treatment.’

Alison said: ‘They have more patients than ever.

‘They have had record amounts of patients in one day in Chase Farm last week.

‘Usually, on average, they have 250 patients a day.

‘Last week they had over 300 patients a day.

‘Where are all these patients going to go?

‘Chase Farm has a successful A&E. It is one of the most successful A&Es in the country, it’s up there with the best.

‘And yet they are closing it.

‘We need to get all the unions out on strike together, not just in this country but all over the world.’