Butt: Central Middlesx A&E closure puts residents at risk

Responding to the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s announcement earlier today that Central Middlesex Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department is to be closed, the Leader of Brent Council Muhammed Butt said:

Central Middlesex Hospital provides vital emergency services for some of the most vulnerable people in our borough. Mr Hunt’s reckless and politically-motivated decision to close this busy and well-used A&E unit will put chronically sick, mentally ill and elderly Brent residents at risk.

The Coalition has not produced any evidence to suggest that more out of hospital services will result in better care for local people, or to reassure residents that Northwick Park and Ealing Hospitals will be able to plug the gap it intends to create in our local health service.

Brent Council objected to the Government’s savage plan in the strongest possible terms in a submission made directly to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel on NHS service change, and I will continue to campaign against this decision.