Interesting debate. I think this is the first time I have actually seen Mr Dowd speak out on an important local issue. I like the way Tessa Jowell arrives towards the very end of the debate and spends her time playing on her ipad in full view of the camera. I understand from a source that she is in favour of closing the A & E Department at Lewisham Hospital!

Heidi is brilliant and an excellent MP. Unlike Dowd who ignores his constituents and is not contactable by phone or email Heidi is truly hard working and dedicated.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/21122960

The proposals to close A&E and maternity services at Lewisham Hospital in south London have been described as "unfair, unwanted, unsafe and unjust".

Leading a Westminster Hall debate on 22 January 2013, the Labour MP for Lewisham East Heidi Alexander criticised the fact that problems at neighbouring South London Healthcare Trust were impacting on Lewisham Hospital.

The proposals to close services at Lewisham have been made by the Trust Special Administrator (TSA), which took over the running of the South London Healthcare Trust, which went into administration during 2012.

Ms Alexander said Lewisham was a "successful and solvent" hospital and criticised public consultation on the plans as "the worst I have ever seen".

A final decision is expected to be taken during February, when the health secretary will have to decide whether to follow the advice of the TSA.

Winding up the debate, Health Minister Anna Soubry said she was legally prevented from expressing an opinion but that a decision would still be taken at the start of February.

She stressed that the decision was nothing to do with government cuts, and was down to the TSA, but pointed out that the South London Healthcare Trust was losing £1m of public money a week.

"We cannot continue with this haemorrhaging of public money," she concluded.