Some useful information passed on to me by email. Please take a couple of minutes to use the link below to email Jeremy Hunt.
Lewisham hospital is in danger. Right now, Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is considering closing vital hospital services, which could leave 750,000 people with just one casualty department between them. [1]
Lewisham Hospital is a well-performing hospital, and the casualty department has just had an expensive refurbishment. Patients, doctors and even some of Lewisham's health chiefs are all opposed to the closure. [2]
Jeremy Hunt could give in to the political pressure to close these NHS services. But together, we can make this a test for Hunt. He's been working hard to present himself as the voice of patients. If thousands of us email him to oppose the plans, he'll be under huge pressure to prove he listens to patients and keep services open.
Could you send a quick email now telling Jeremy Hunt not to close vital NHS services in South London? It only takes two minutes:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/nhs-lewisham
Already the people of Lewisham and the surrounding area have taken to the streets in their thousands to save their A&E, intensive care and maternity units. We could ramp up the pressure on Jeremy Hunt if thousands of us email him directly. We can make him think twice about overruling patients, doctors and local health chiefs.
We all rely on NHS services to be there to help us when we're most in need. If these hospital services close, patients will have to travel further and queue longer. Other nearby hospitals are already stretched - just recently ambulances have been diverted to Lewisham hospital to pick up the slack. [3]
Click here to send a quick email now:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/nhs-lewisham
Last week we had a brilliant NHS breakthrough. Monitor, the NHS competition watchdog, listened to public pressure not to let private healthcare companies avoid corporation tax. [4]
This happened after tens of thousands of 38 Degrees members emailed them to object to the proposed tax breaks. Now we can do the same with Jeremy Hunt. Please write your email here:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/nhs-lewisham
Thanks for being involved,
James, Ian, Becky and the 38 Degrees team
PS: Campaigners from 'Save Lewisham A&E' have organised a march to save these vital hospital services on Saturday 26th January. [5] We'll be meeting outside the The Anglican Parish Church of Saint Stephen and Saint Mark, Lewisham High Street, London, SE13 5AJ at 11.30am. Are you free to come along too?
Please pop the office team an email so we have enough placards for everyone: ccgsupport@38degrees.org.uk
NOTES
[1] Guardian: Lewisham hospital's fury at £195m bill for A&E closure
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/13...ll-closure
[2] London 24: Lewisham A&E closure proposals 'unsafe, rushed and unjust'
http://www.london24.com/news/health/lewi..._1_1785896
Pulse: Lewisham A&E set to close despite CCG opposition
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/commiss...P03GCc02tw
[3] Evening Standard: Hospitals set to handle thousands of extra births 'cannot cope now'
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/education...44002.html
[4] 38 Degrees Blog: Update: Breakthrough
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2013/01/16/...akthrough/
[5] Save Lewisham Hospital: Demonstration - 26th January
http://www.savelewishamhospital.com/demo...h-january/