Swanley & Dartford Chronicle August 2008

Local Conservatives have expressed their anger at the decision taken by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts to cut A&E and Maternity Services at Queen Mary’s Hospital and pledged to continue the fight to stop it from happening. Bexley Council Leader Teresa O Neill said, “I can assure all Bexley residents that we will continue to campaign to fight this dreadful decision. Details of our campaign will be released over the coming weeks and I hope that all our residents will join us in the fight to overturn the decision. ” The campaign was welcomed by James Cleverly who represents Bexley & Bromley on the London Assembly, “Boris Johnson and the Conservative Group on the London Assembly fully support keeping these services at Queen Mary’s. ” James Brokenshire MP the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Old Bexley & Sidcup said “The whole process has been a sham. The decision to downgrade and cut services at the hospital was clearly taken long ago and this process has been nothing more than a rubber stamping exercise. We need to fight to keep high quality facilities in Sidcup for Bexley residents. ” David Evennett Commenting on the announcement by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts that Option 2 of the A Picture of Health consultation had been recommended, David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, said “This proposal is the worst possible option for the people of Bexley, with a reduction in choice and medical provision. “I believe the decision has been taken for financial and political reasons and I am very concerned about the consequences for my constituents. My fear now is that Queen Mary’s Hospital will face terminal decline”. Deeply disappointed It will be devastating for local people, if Queen Mary s Hospital in Sidcup is downgraded to a borough hospital, and it loses its emergency services, including A&E, children s and maternity department, under A Picture of Health proposals. I have campaigned for Queen Mary s Hospital, including marching alongside the thousands of local people who want to retain the important services it provides, and am committed in my opposition to closure or downgrading of any hospital services, unless equivalent or better ones are already up and running. I am deeply disappointed by these proposals and will do everything I can to help the residents of Bexley in their battle to keep the important services provided by Queen Mary s. I have already stated that I will give evidence if the Government refers the case to the independent reconfiguration panel. As Mayor of London, I believe that a key part of tackling health inequalities is retaining vital services that local communities can rely on. If the proposals go ahead and Queen Mary s loses these services, it could set a precedent for the whole of London, meaning some areas are more poorly served than others. This would not be progress and we must do all we can to ensure it does not happen. Boris Johnson Mayor of London Derek Conway Old Bexley & Sidcup MP Derek Conway has fiercely condemned the consultation process by the NHS London Board for the future of Queen Mary’s Hospital. He said, “There are no surprises with this pre-ordained outcome. The NHS London Board was determined to go down the route chosen and whatever the response, even if hundreds of thousands had replied ‘no, not this’, it would have made no difference. This was a sham and pointless consultation from the outset. A sham public relations exercise on a misguided plan that will leave pregnant women more at risk, people with serious injuries and illnesses less quickly treated”. He added, “At the end of the process I very much doubt any money will be saved. Like all the great NHS reform schemes we end up with lower quality access, huge but distant centres of ‘excellence’ and the public in Bexley less well served than before”. Mr. Conway concluded, “The Borough of Bexley deserves better from Labour Health Ministers and their appointees who have ridden rough-shod over the reasonable wishes of the residents of the area”. Chronicle Bexley & Dartford SAMARITANS SAMARITANS Need New volunteers NOW Could you become A SAMARITAN? Ring 07761 604086 for details 40p Where SoldT h e Vo i c e o f S w a n l e y Swanley & Dartford Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE 26 Movies19 Motoring18 Weddings AUGUSTwww. bexleychronicle. com August 2008 Continued on back page CARROLL CARPETSDomestic & Commercial Flooring Specialists • Competitive Rates • Free estimates • Free Fitting FREEPHONE 0800 317452New Showroom open 6 days. 11-13 Station Road, Swanley, Kent All types of Carpets• Vinyl • Laminates • Wood Flooring Call free 0800 163 186 53 The Oval, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 9ER 5 Lessness Ave. , Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 5SH *Free Summer Check* on Alternators, Batteries & Starter Motors Cutting the cost of Summer repairs Batteries for every make of car BRAKE DISCS AND DISC PADS AT LOW PRICES Dartford Crossing - scrap tolls says FTA The Freight Transport Association is dismayed at the decision to give discounts to residents using the Dartford Crossing while increasing charges for everyone else, including local businesses. FTA says that scrapping the tolls altogether would have a far more beneficial impact on the local economy, which uses the crossing as a key link to markets on either side of the Thames. When the tolls were introduced it was with the promise that they would end once the bridge was paid for. That day came and went on Tuesday 1 April 2003. Now not only have motorists had to pay them for five years longer than agreed, but the Government wants to increase the charges. The decision to increase the charges is based on a misguided premise that it will decrease congestion by encouraging traffic to use the bridge at night. At best, this will only affect FIGHT TO SAVE QUEEN MARY’S Tandoori RestaurantFully Licensed and Air Conditioned Open 7 Days a week for lunch & dinner 169-171 Station Road, Sidcup, Kent DA15 7AA Reservations: 020 8300 0777 / 020 8300 2527 Amazing, brilliant tributes by West End show star Shenton Dixon (the UK’s only authentic Stevie Wonder look-alike and sound-alike) to George Benson, Stevie Wonder and Barry White. Unmissable! (Est 1978) Shenton Dixon Strictly Soul Show Tuesday 2nd September Free entertainment for diners (Usual top quality menu) Got a story? The Swanley & Dartford Chronicle wants it! Email: newsdesk@bexleychronicle. com 020 8302 6069