Campaigners protest against planned south-west London NHS cuts (From Surrey Comet)

Campaigners protest against planned south-west London NHS cuts

9:42am Monday 18th February 2013 in News By Jon Sharman, Reporter

Protesters march to campaign against cuts to NHS South West London

Protesters campaigning against planned cuts to health services in south-west London marched through Kingston on Saturday.

Organisers said there were about 150 people, including representatives from Unison and the Richmond and Twickenham Green Party, taking part in the demonstration.

They were protesting plans to close two accident and emergency and two maternity departments in the south-west London area under the Better Services Better Value review.

Julie Reay, of campaign group Health Alert Kingston, said: “I thought it went very well. People in the town centre were clapping, cheering, and things like that. People joined us as we were marching.”

Two of south west London and north Surrey’s hospitals – Kingston, St Helier, Epsom, Croydon – are threatened but St George’s Hospital Tooting is currently exempt from the changes.

Kingston Hospital’s accident and emergency and maternity units are not currently threatened, but it stands to lose its long-term children’s ward Sunshine.

A consultation on plans for closure is due after Easter.