Call to oppose healthcare shake-up

10:01am Thursday 2nd October 2008

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TWO councillors presented an 1,800-name petition to Lewisham Council on Monday night calling on it to oppose the A Picture of Health plans.

Socialist Party councillors Ian Page and Chris Flood described Lewisham's decision to back the A Picture of Health proposals as "incredible".

Lewisham councillors Chris Maines and Sylvia Scott represent Lewisham on a joint scrutiny committee.

They refused to back the joint committee's decision to refer the plans - which would strip Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, of its emergency services and reduce surgical A&E at Lewisham to a daytime service - to Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

Councillor Flood said: "The plan to completely close the A&E at Queen Mary's Hospital is in itself unacceptable, as A&E services in south-east London are already overstretched.

"But for Lewisham councillors to accept the closure of night-time A&E services at Lewisham Hospital as well is amazing."

He added: "What's especially outrageous is these plans are not driven by clinical needs but by the massive costs of private finance initiative deals in south-east London's hospitals."

The petition will now be sent to Lewisham Primary Care Trust so it can respond.