THERE was a lively campaign yesterday, as local people joined in and gave out leaflets for the North East London Council of Action march through Enfield on Saturday July 26, to save Chase Farm Hospital.
Jack Henison, 18, said he was coming on the march, adding: ‘I was born at Chase Farm, so I want to save it.
‘Everything is going downhill in this country, particularly the NHS.
‘I’m willing to occupy the hospital to stop it closing.’
His friend Thomas Rook, 17, said: ‘I was in Chase Farm with a broken ankle and they sorted me out in two hours.
‘It’s a great hospital. I will be marching on July 26.’
Katarina Gammalliere said: ‘Having the Accident and Emergency close by, saves lives.
‘If they close it, there will be more fatalities.
‘They are trying to close Whipps Cross, where I live.
‘Basically, without Whipps Cross, where do we go?
‘Rather than give the money to Barnet PFI, to pay millions for the lease to the private builders, they should give the money directly to the NHS to pay for nurses, doctors and new equipment and to keep Chase Farm open.’
Mr and Mrs Hicks said: ‘Chase Farm is convenient.
‘It covers a wide field of medical work.
‘Because we are older, we can’t get around.
‘We will come on the march.
‘The government does not pay any attention to the people’s wishes. They made up their minds months ago to close Chase Farm.’
James Gordon said: ‘Chase Farm is the only hospital in the local area. It’s so important to me, especially as I have two very young children.
‘The government are a law unto themselves, letting private housing be built on the hospital grounds at Chase Farm.
‘I am a black cab driver and I definitely would support an occupation and so would my whole family.’
Mrs Betty Davis said: ‘If there is an accident on the M25, people will die by the time they get to Barnet.
‘It is the most difficult place to get to.
‘It is far off the beaten track, it is crazy.
‘They have deliberately run down the buildings at Chase Farm.
‘I definitely agree that it should be occupied.’
Nigel Mayhew, a patient since 1979 at Chase Farm, said: ‘Chase Farm serves a good purpose.
‘You have Accident and Emergency, Maternity, Paediatrics and a Psychiatric Unit there.
‘It would be an awful shame if it wasn’t there anymore.
‘A lot of people would miss it. I will be on the march on July 26.’