MATERNITY staff at Chase Farm Hospital joined the North East London Council of Action picket yesterday to demand paediatrics, A&E and maternity services are kept open by all means necessary.
A barrage of hoots in support from cars continued all day, and there were flags and banners demanding to keep Chase Farm open.
Bill Rogers, Secretary of the North East London Council of Action said: ‘The government have had their so-called “listening” and the government are going ahead with the cuts and closures.
‘On June 30 a million workers are going to take strike action to defend pensions in the public services, this action must be extended to defend the NHS which is the heart of the Welfare State.
‘What we need is a general strike to bring down the government and for a workers government and socialism.
‘Part of the campaign to prevent these cuts must be an occupation of Chase Farm Hospital.’
Abbey Badejo, a patient and staff member at Chase Farm, said: ‘I use maternity services at Chase and I disagree with them being shut down.
Student nurse Adeyemi said: ‘I am a member of Unison and RCN and if industrial action is called I will join in to defend the NHS for myself and the unborn generation.
‘Cuts in the NHS will effect my probability of getting a job on graduation.
‘If they cut down jobs then you have to realise that this will mean people being thrown onto the streets.’
Expectant mum, Lisa Cardinali said: ‘I use the services at Chase Farm, the baby is going to be born next month and the service is exceptional.
‘It is unfair that it has to get to the stage where we have to occupy the hospital, however, this shows the commitment of staff to the community.’
An administrator at Chase Farm, Joanne Carlyle said: ‘The next closest hospital is either Barnet, QE2 or North Middlesex, that is too far away, and that is precious minutes in an emergency.
‘I would support a sit-in.’