Video: Save Lewisham Hospital march - 'a matter of life and death' (From News Shopper)

Video: Save Lewisham Hospital march - 'a matter of life and death'

7:10am Friday 25th January 2013 in Lewisham By Mark Chandler

THERE'S just one day to go until a march against the closure of Lewisham Hospital's A&E and maternity services.

More than 15,000 people from across Lewisham, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Southwark and beyond are expected to show their opposition to the proposals, put forward due to the administration of the South London Healthcare NHS Trust.

Crowds will gather at Loampit Vale roundabout, beside Lewisham station, from midday on January 26 before marching past the hospital to Mountsfield Park where there will be a rally, music and a giant petition.

Dr Helen Tattersfield, local GP and chairwoman of Lewisham’s Clinical Commissioning Group, said the Save Lewisham Hospital group had been overwhelmed by the support from people around the UK who are coming to the march.

She said: "It just highlights that this a national issue.  This is the first time the Government has put in place its ‘failure regime’ for an NHS Trust – and the proposed solution is to destroy services at a successful and high performing neighbouring trust. 

"The ‘failure regime’ is set to be used many more times across the UK, so if the Government can close down Lewisham Hospital then no successful hospital in the country is safe."

Mickey Crouch from Unison said he was expecting a massive turnout from nurses and health workers at the hospital, promising "quite a show".

He said: "This is the most critical fight I've seen in my whole nursing and union career.

"It's a matter of life and death."

To find out more visit savelewishamhospital.com