By Charlotte Webster-
A petition requesting for an accident and emergency unit to be saved has been handed in to 10 Downing Street.
Andy Walker, who has campaigned for the future of the A&E at King George’s hospital for years, says the department faces the serious threat of closure, and is calling for an open consultation to address the matter.
Redbridge Council and Barking, Redbridge and Havering University Hospitals Trust (BHRUT), which runs the hospital, had initially claimed that the threat is no longer there, but campaigners say this is not the case.
Mr Walker and two councillors from Havering Council, attended 10 Downing Street on Friday to hand in a petition calling for the hospital trust to consult the public on its new plans and make all details publicly available. Walker says an active plan is being made to close the A&E at Kings College and move most medical activities to Queens hospital. He says this will have a devastating effect on the hospital, its staff, and patients.
Mr Walker said: “The key thing is we have to stop this radical new plan, I’m puzzled why the council and the hospitals trust are saying there is no new plan, when it’s clear.
“I’ve pushed health bosses about this plan, which was agreed in 2016 and is being worked through now.
“Queen’s Hospital is being extended to cope with more patients, according to these plans to make King George hospital a centre of excellence for the elderly.
“The new plan transfers all emergency patients to Queen’s and it’s undeniable, an 11-year-old could read the plans and see it’s a plan to close King George A&E.
“Senior politicians need to get into the real world and come to terms with what is actually happening.”