‘IT’S BABIES, the newborns coming into this world, they must be protected and they must continue to be born in Ealing Hospital,’ Southall College student Cleopatra Sweeney told News Line yesterday morning.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s march into Ealing hospital to occupy and stop the closure of the maternity unit (See advert this page), Cleopatra added: ‘They need to stop thieving from our NHS. I am coming to the occupation. I will occupy.’
Fellow Southall student Anna Szorek, said: ‘I live in Greenford and Ealing is my local hospital. When I have my babies I want to have them here.
‘I am marching and occupying.’
Sonia Davis, an LSA (Learning Support Assistant), said: ‘For people in Ealing and Southall closure of the maternity will be terrible.
‘We must occupy, it is the only way to save it. Those poor mothers, can you imagine being in labour and not having a local Maternity Department.’
Earlier outside Ealing Hospital, RCN member and nurse Gloria said: ‘I welcome the march. We need maternity here it is the necessity for all women and unborn.
‘I want my union and all the unions to support the march.
‘I will ask my colleagues to come out and welcome the march.’
RCN member Rajwant said: ‘I will support the march and give leaflets out to colleagues.’
Unison member Jade, a rehab assistant, said: ‘I am on the march and telling my friends and Unison colleagues that they must be too.
‘Where will everyone go without maternity? They are ripping the heart out of the hospital.’
Rianne, a nurse and Unison member, said: ‘Ealing hospital must continue to welcome pregnant women to have their babies here. This closure must not be allowed.’
Other trade unionists in the area pledged support for the march and occupation.
Mr S Dhuper, a Unite member and Hayes bus driver, said: ‘I will ask my colleagues to stop work and join the march. This hospital must continue to provide full NHS services to local people and that means maternity.’
At Ealing fire station Tony Quann, FBU member, said: ‘It is outrageous! It is a service that should be there and we need it.
‘My wife works at Ealing Hospital and both of my sons were born there.
‘It is just cuts and more cuts. They have got rid of one of our fire engines.
‘We need strike action to defend our services.’
At Southall fire station Chris Jaron, FBU member, said: ‘They are closing hospitals and then express surprise that waiting times are going up.
‘They are mad! We have to protect our maternity at Ealing Hospital.’