Redbridge councillors united in opposition to plans
THE FIGHT to save services at King George Hospital is going right to the heart of government after Redbridge Council unanimously decided to lobby the Secretary of State for Health.
Andrew Lansley will be asked to review proposals which will see the A&E and labour ward at the hospital in Barley Lane, Goodmayes, close.
The controversial plans, which were first mooted as long ago as 2006, were castigated as councillors gathered for two emergency meetings held on Tuesday in Redbridge Town Hall, High Road, Ilford.
The council’s health scrutiny committee agreed to ask chief executive Roger Hampson to write to Mr Lansley expressing the authority’s objection to the plans on six counts.
Two hours later, a full council meeting formally approved that recommendation.
Intervention by Mr Lansley is considered to be the last chance for the plans to be thrown out.
Council leader Cllr Keith Prince said he wanted the council not only to write to Mr Lansley, but for the borough’s MPs to “harangue him to reverse this outrageous decision”.
FOR A SERIES OF SPECIAL REPORTS SEE THIS WEEK’S RECORDER.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here