ANXIOUS to save Ealing Hospital from proposed cuts, the council has engaged a health expert to review the plans.

Former NHS executive Timothy Rideout will work alongside other experts to forensically examine the NHS’s business case used to support the change.

The independent report will be delivered at the beginning of October and will form part of Ealing borough’s official response to the NHS consultation, which closes on October 8.

Cabinet member for health and adult services, Cllr Jasbir Annand, said: “From speaking to people I know, many have been put off filling in the NHS consultation document because it is long, jargon-ridden and forces people to answer leading questions designed to support the proposal.” 

The report will look in detail at the effect of the proposed changes on local people’s health, as well as the assumptions made by the NHS about transport times and finances.

All political parties on the council oppose the proposals.

Cllr Annand said: “If these plans go ahead, our local hospital services will be annihilated.”

People who wish to find out more can attend a debate involving NHS North West London and the Save Our Hospitals Campaign at Ealing Town Hall tonight (Wednesday, 26) at 7pm.

Visit www.ealing.gov.uk/soh for more information about signing the Save Our Hospitals petition and the consultation document.