Thanks to all who joined us on Saturday – it was brilliant to be out on the streets again doing what we do best standing up for our NHS and local hospital.
Despite all the restrictions we were delighted that 40 – 50 people turned out to send a powerful messages to NHS bosses – Hands Off Our Hospital!
We had our customary Hats, banners and placards a plenty – thanks to Arthur and Oliver for these.
Of course we had to have the odd song or two too “Do we love our NHS – yes we do – do we love Ealing Hospital – yes we do” ….
We had a great spread of speakers and support including Rupa Huq MP, Onkar Sahota (GLA) local councillors and community groups such as Southall Black Sisters, St Johns Church and Southall Community Alliance. Local MP, Virendra Sharma also sent a message of support. A good turn out from campaigners and lots of our lovely supporters too!
Here are a few pictures –
All together for Ealing & Our NHS!
New Story: ‘Pro-NHS protestors claim local service Being Betrayed’
It is great to get some news coverage of Saturday’s event and what is happening to our hospital. The ESON case comes out rather well and we stand by our quote below until we see a concrete commitment to return our services and a proper plan for Ealing Hospital.
“Covid-19 is providing cover for the re-introduction of plans to downgrade Ealing Hospital from a great District General Hospital that supports the community, to something less – a series of clinics with an adult-only A&E without 24-hour emergency surgery. We have a high number of elderly and BAME local residents who are at risk and need support.”
Reading the Hospitals Trust response it is hard to believe many people would be re-assured by their promises of reviews and assessments but no real concrete commitments to return services or to the Hospital.
You can read the story here, which will soon be available on the ‘My London’ website
Importance of Ealing Hospital A&E more than ever as Hillingdon A&E closes:
Around 70 staff at Hillingdon Hospital are now isolating, some of whom have tested positive, following a coronavirus outbreak on Friday 3rd July. As a result the A&E and emergency admissions have been halted and ambulances diverted to nearby emergency departments, which means Ealing and Northwick Park Hospitals.
All we can say is it’s proving yet again how important it was to stop the closure of our A&E!! Glad it was there to help the people of Hillingdon.
Keep Our NHS groups do the NHS 72nd proud
The NHS 72nd birthday was marked up and down the country by campaigners from Keep Our NHS Public like Ealing Save Our NHS. Taking place during the Covid19 pandemic meant that many demonstrations took a serious tone.
On Friday 3rd July, Sixty-five lanterns were carried by protestors from St Thomas’ Hospital in South East London, over Westminster Bridge to Downing Street. Keep Our NHS Public joined with campaigners from The People’s Assembly Against Austerity, We Own It and Health Campaigns Together for the evening protest, with each lantern representing one thousand people who have died in the UK during this pandemic due to the Government’s botched response.
On the Sunday the excellent online NHS Birthday Rally took place and was watched by over 31,000 people. Ex-Childrens Poet Laureate Michael Rosen, who has only just recovered from coronavirus, opens the rally with his excellent poem – ‘These are the Hands’.
You can still watch it here-
Our next Campaign Meeting – Tuesday 21st July
You are very welcome to join our online meeting at 7.30pm. We will be discussing the changes and concerns that have been made to GP services as a result of coronavirus, as well as the latest news on our Hospital & NHS. Please contact me for more details.
