EALING COUNCIL has launched a campaign to save Ealing Hospital’s A&E, despite assurances it will not close.

The campaign, ‘Save Our Hospitals’, launched in response to a public consultation document released by NHS North West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups in October.

As a result, Ealing Council leader Julian Bell will not sign up to the STP, fearing the end of the hospital as we know it.

He said: “Ealing Hospital provides excellent acute hospital services to some of the most deprived populations in North West London and people need to have access to an A&E.

“People will have to travel much further to support loved ones in hospital, and time spent in an ambulance will be greater, meaning there will be a larger risk of people dying.”

Hammersmith and Fulham Council has also joined the campaign, as Charing Cross’ A&E may also be closed.

If this was the case three London boroughs – Ealing, Brent and Hammersmith and Fulham – would be left without essential A&E services.

This concern has been ongoing for several years, but in 2013 health secretary Jeremy Hunt promised that the A&Es would remain at these hospitals, even if in ‘a different shape or size’.

Yet the recent report has renewed the debate.

Although it does not explicitly say the A&Es will be closed, Councillor Bell said these aims are obvious if you read between the lines.

However, an NHS North West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups spokesperson said: “There will be local A&Es at both hospitals as per the Secretary of State’s commitment.”

Councillor Bell said this is untrue, and there will be an announcement at the start of this week which he believes will confirm their true plans.

If the plans go ahead, the council will use petitions, demonstrations and any means possible to prevent this from happening.