Ealing Save Our NHS Holding Demonstration This Weekend

Socially distanced gathering outside Ealing Hospital to celebrate service

Previous demo by Ealing Save Our NHS (before Covid-19 outbreak)

To mark the 72th anniversary of the founding of the National Health Service, Ealing Save Our NHS (ESON) are holding a demonstration outside Ealing Hospital this Saturday 4 July.

They describe it as a celebration of the NHS and say it will be a socially distanced gathering with masks recommended.

Local campaign group ESON have organised the event in conjunction with similar demonstrations taking place across the country.

They say that as well as celebrating the NHS and its fantastic staff, the campaigners want to draw attention to ongoing cuts.

“Of course services had to be reorganised to deal with the pandemic emergency” says ESON Chair Oliver New “but other things have been going on at the same time and we now worry that the old and discredited plans to undermine Ealing Hospital are being taken out of the bin and brought back.”

Intensive care beds have been removed from the hospital and emergency surgery has ceased. There are some promises to reinstate surgery but at best daytime only. Orthopaedic surgery has also been removed and acute children’s services and maternity have still not been returned.

ESON say they are horrified that there seems to be no long term commitment to maintain Ealing as a proper District General Hospital and claim that hospital staff share their concerns.

They add, “Asking people to travel to Northwick Park Hospital is ridiculous as many people don’t even know where it is, let alone how on earth to get there, including elderly and vulnerable patients and mums with children.”

They also claim the higher death rate of BAME people has not been addressed as it should have been through a commitment to maintain vital services in Ealing Hospital. Instead they say long term plans are to take services away from communities in Southall and surrounding areas.

The demonstration takes place from 12.30 -1.30 pm, Saturday 4 July on Uxbridge Road outside Ealing Hospital. Contact info@ealingsaveournhs.org.uk if you’re interested in coming. Current government guidelines discourage gatherings of more than six people.

July 2, 2020