THERE was a lively picket outside Ealing Hospital yesterday morning where a lot of people said they would come to the meeting and march to stop the closure of the maternity on 24 June (see ad this page).
Bhim Raj Rai, GMB rep who led a successful pay strike against privateer Medirest last year, told News Line: ‘It is not right closing Ealing maternity. It is too difficult for the local population of Southall, Greenford, Hanwell and Ealing to go far away.
‘They can’t afford taxis. What this government is doing is wrong. We must all speak up together. We mustn’t let maternity close on 24th June, we need a general strike immediately to save the NHS.’
Gurpal Singh Rattan said: ‘My three children were born here, we mustn’t allow the maternity to close at any price. It is so convenient and we need it. Mothers’ and babies’ lives depend on it. I will be on the march on 24th June and will tell people in the community to come to the Miri Piri at 11am at Beresford Road to get ready for occupation.’
Indy Sunner, a special needs teacher, said: ‘Ealing maternity shouldn’t be allowed to close, because local people need it and absolutely depend on it. All the surrounding hospitals are too far and already too full.’
Paramedic, John, said: ‘We take patients to the new A&E at Northwick Park. The beds are full most days. It would not cope if Ealing A&E was to close which they are planning to do after they have closed the maternity.’