Save Kingston Hospital campaign - one week in

Since Edward Davey and Susan Kramer launched the Save Kingston Hospital campaign at the beginning of last week, much has been happening. For a start, nearly 6000 people have signed the petition, and nearly 11,000 have joined the Facebook group.

If you have somehow missed it, I should explain that some weeks ago the MPs were told that a review was being undertaken of the hospitals in South West London. One of the options being considered was to close down the A&E and Maternity departments at Kingston.

This South West London Strategic Plan was due to be published in December, and the date was then postponed until Jan 25th. At the last minute the MPs heard that although the report had been written it was being held back until after the election. They decided this was too important an issue to ignore so went public with their concerns.

Not surprisingly, some people have questioned the MPs' sources. As you will see on the website, they were given this information in four separate meetings with four separate chief executives. They also met staff who were working on the feasibility of the proposals.

On Wednesday, there was a routine meeting of the Board of Kingston Hospital, at which the Chair said it was 'inconceivable' that the departments would close. He did not, however, deny that there were any proposals.

By coincidence, last Wednesday evening I was sitting on the Council's Health Overview Panel which scrutinises local health matters, so I was not at all surprised that someone asked a question about the campaign. I explained what I knew - that senior NHS staff had indeed briefed the MPs about the content of the review, but that the staff would be under pressure not to reveal that.

I suggested that the Health Overview Panel should hold a special meeting to look into the matter, and this was agreed around the table. We would invite the Chief Execs of Kingston Hospital, NHS Kingston, and the people running the SW London review, as well as the two MPs. This is now being arranged.

In the meantime, Susan Kramer and Edward Davey have submitted Freedom of Information requests to those bodies as well as NHS London, and the Dept of Health. You can see these on the campaign website. The bodies have to reply in 20 working days, which will take us up to early March.

This is far too important an issue for it to be ignored or kept hidden.