Save Our Hospitals Hold Rally in Lyric Square


Rally and benefit gig are climax of campaigners' week of action

Save Our Hospitals campaigners are holding a rally in Lyric Square on Saturday, February 16 followed by a benefit gig at the Distillers pub in Fulham Palace Road.

These events are the culmination of a Week of Action, when

Hammersmith and Fulham residents joined campaigners from across London, ahead of February 19 when NHS North West London will make its final recommendations.

The campaign says an unprecedented coalition of London residents, medical staff, trade unions and health campaigners has come together to raise the alarm regarding the biggest threats to A & E's, maternity units and in-hospital care for a generation.

In our borough, NHS plans are to close the A & E units at Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals and to reduce other services.

Last week, H & F Council announced that Charing Cross Hospital is to be saved but this has brought an angry response from campaigners.

The week has included protests, pickets, rallies, demonstrations, candle lit vigils, musical events and more. In West London, this means vigils outside Ealing and Central Middlesex Hospitals and a march from Kingston Hospital.

The Save Our Hospitals Hammersmith & Fulham rally will take place in Lyric Square in Hammersmith from 12pm -2pm, and will be followed by a benefit gig at The Distillers in Fulham Palace Road, with doors open at 7pm.

Local residents are also invited to come along and join candlelit vigils outside Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals, taking place every Sunday from 5pm - 6pm.



Local feelings about the plans has been running high for months, with two ongoing campaigns against the proposals.

Save Our Hospitals is run by a group of local people along with MP Andy Slaughter. You can find out more about the Save our Hospitals and offers your support at the website  and follow it on twitter, hashtag #Saveourhospitals.

You can read more about Hammersmith and Fulham Council's opposition to the plans on its website at Save Charing Cross Hospital and Save Hammersmith Hospital.

February 15, 2013