A chance to ask questions about NHS proposals

This afternoon from 2pm there is a public event at Pattidar House in London Road Wembley organised by NW London NHS Trust to discuss 'Shaping a Healthier Future' the policy document that will lead to the closure of Accident and Emergency at Central Middlesex as well as other major changes in local provision.

The event runs from  2pm until 8pm with Question and Answer sessions at 2-4pm and 6-8pm.

The Campaign to defend the health Service in NW London, in particular to oppose the closure of the Accident and emergency Department at Central Middlesex, is well underway.

Campaigners got an excellent response in Harlesden and Willesden last Saturday, and will be

outside the Methodist Church, Harlesden and Sainsbury’s Willesden from 3-5 p.m. Saturday afternoons for the next few weeks.

Please come along and show support. If you can help with the leafletting and petitioning, even for a short time, all the better. There will be cards and petitions you can take away to spread the word. People are putting these in libraries, doctors surgeries and shops to win support.

Brent Council has also passed a resolution opposing the closure of the A & E department at Central Middlesex, and there is an e-petion on the Council website calling them to do all they can to support the campaign.

You can sign the e-petition here:

http://democracy.brent.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=35&RPID=2667144&HPID=2667144

There have been problems with this Council website, though it is working at the moment. If you find it is not working when you try, please try again the next day.

The police have agreed to our request for permission to demonstrate from Harlesden to the hospital on Saturday September 15th at 12 noon

On Thursday September 20th, the local education unions, together with Brent Fightback, are putting on an event “The Future of education in Brent” at Copeland School, Wembley from 7-9 p.m. Speakers include Melissa Benn, local author of “School Wars”, a critique of government education policy.

On Saturday, October 20th, Trades Union Congress is organising a mass demonstration in London with the message “Austerity Isn’t Working”. More details later, but please put it in your diary now.

Finally, local campaign organising dates:

NHS Campaign, Wednesday 22nd August, 7.30 p.m.

Brent Fightback, the local anti-cuts campaign, Monday 3rd September, 7.30 p.m.

Both meetings at the Trades Hall, 375 High Road, NW10 2JR

Get our local MPs to act on hospital closures and privatisation

In addition to the e-petition calling on Brent Council to fight the closure of Central Middlesex Accident and Emergency, a paper petition has been launched stating the following:

To: NHS NW London, Sarah Teather MP, Glenda Jackson MP, Barry Gardiner MP,

NHS NW London is consulting on proposals which would mean the accident and emergency department at Central Middlesex Hospital, already closed at night, closing for ever. This could be the first step in the downgrading of the hospital, which serves some of the most deprived wards in Brent with the greatest health needs.

We the undersigned demand: 

· The reopening of A & E at Central Middlesex Hospital to provide a full 24 hour emergency service with all necessary back up.

· No cuts to community, mental health or other services. The government can find money for the banks, they should restore the £1billion they are cutting from NW London Health Services.

· An end to privatisation which provides an inferior service for patients and cuts in jobs, pay or worse working conditions for staff, creaming off profits for private companies.
Campaigning organisations will be collecting signatures over the summer and into the autumn. You can run off your own copy using the link below and collect signatures in your workplace or neighbourhood.

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Sign petition for Central Middlesex A&E campaign

 Local resident Carol Foster has launched the e-petition below: Anyone of any age who lives or works in Brent can sign the petition. Follow this LINK

We, the undersigned, petition Brent Council to do all in its power to prevent the closure of the Accident and Emergency Department at Central Middlesex Hospital. This will include making the case against the closure and seeking support for this position on all appropriate bodies on which the council is represented.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

•  North West London NHS is consulting on proposals in 'Shaping A Healthier Future' which would mean that Central Middlesex Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department, already closed overnight, will close for good. This is likely to be the first step in the complete down-grading of the hospital and its potential closure in the long term.
• The hospital serves some of the most deprived wards of South Brent which have poor transport links with Northwick Park Hospital, the likely alternative A &amp; E.
•  The area is the location of major roads including the North Circular and the Harrow Road; railway lines including the Euston-Birmingham main line, Overground, Bakerloo, Chiltern, Metropolitan and Jubilee lines, a major industrial area in Park Royal; as well as waste management and other potentially pollution causing processing plants in the Neasden area. The area also includes the major venues at Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena.
•  All of the above are potential locations for major incidents necessitating ready access to an Accident and Emergency facility.
•  Ealing Council has already committed itself to actively fighting the proposals and Brent Council should do the same.

Brent Fightback will be distributing postcards in Harlesden this afternoon publicising the September 15th March from Harlesden to Central Middlesex Hospital. Fightback hopes that they will be joined by Brent councillors.

Ealing Council fights for A&E departments

Support for fight for Central Middlesex Hospital

From Brent and Kilburn Times, June 28th 2012