THE North-East London Council of Action yesterday called on everyone opposed to the threatened closure of Chase Farm Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department and maternity and children’s services to march through Enfield on July 26 and be prepared to occupy the hospital to stop it closing.
ASLEF train drivers’ union member Bill Rogers, secretary of the North-East London Council of Action, said: ‘The North-East London Council of Action is going to march through Enfield town on Saturday July 26.
‘We will be marching to defend Chase Farm Hospital against the Brown government’s plans to close the hospital in order to make way for a privately-run polyclinic.
‘We know that thousands of Enfield residents will be marching with us to save our hospital.
‘What is being planned for Chase Farm is just a part of the government’s London-wide and nationwide plans to smash the National Health Service by getting rid of District General Hospitals like Chase Farm.
‘Another part of the plan is also to smash up and destroy GP services.
‘Recently, one and a half million people signed a petition to defend GP surgeries and keep polyclinics out.
‘At the moment in Enfield we have forced a temporary halt in the closure plan.
‘Now a so-called Independent Reconfiguration Panel has been roped in to rubber-stamp the plan to close Chase Farm Hospital.
‘The Independent Reconfiguration Panel is due to announce its decision on Chase Farm on July 31, so it’s very important that we mobilise thousands of people and march on Saturday July 26.
‘We intend to show to the Panel and to the government that the citizens of Enfield will not allow their hospital to be closed.
‘We are going to mobilise and prepare everyone for an occupation of the hospital should that become necessary.’
Rogers added: ‘A fully functioning District General Hospital has to have a 24-hour Accident and Emergency Department and proper maternity and children’s services
‘Workers are going to insist that these services must remain at Chase Farm in full.’
