THERE was enormous support for tonight’s meeting to stop the closure of Ealing Hospital Maternity Unit yesterday morning.
Hospital workers, patients, local residents and youth bought tickets for the meeting and pledged to come on next Wednesday’s march.
Adam Kumar, a young student, said: ‘The community badly needs Ealing Hospital.
‘They should not have merged Northwick Park and Ealing Hospitals because they are totally different areas with different needs and too far apart.
‘There are no direct buses or trains and you have to get three or four buses to get to Northwick Park.
‘In an emergency you could be dead before you get to another hospital far away.’
Kulvir Singh, a patient, said: ‘The maternity should not close. I live in Southall and we need it.
‘The whole community should march to save our hospital next Wednesday 24th June.’
Diego Antao, another patient, said: ‘We are very much attached to Ealing Hospital and we have been coming here for the last five years.
‘We cannot run from pillar to post to get our NHS treatment. Without Ealing Hospital there will be nothing for us here.’
A consultant in the maternity unit took leaflets for the march and meeting and said he would distribute them, saying: ‘This unit should not be allowed to close, it is my baby.’
The manager of the midwives said: ‘I have 55 midwives left here and it is heartbreaking coping with the closure.
‘Something should have been done two-and-a-half years ago when we knew it was going to close.’
