March for hospitals: this Saturday

Bushers will join those from Hammersmith, Fulham and the surrounding boroughs in a mass demonstration of support for our local hospitals this coming Saturday - and you're invited.

I've already reported on the details of what's at stake and why, so let me leave the rest to the Chair of this community campaign, Carlo Nero:

SATURDAY 6th OCTOBER
...sees the climax of our campaign when we MARCH from Shepherds Bush to Lillie Road - the route symbolises the link between Hammersmith and Charing X hospitals, and the people who use them.

We need a huge turnout to build on the success of the March in Ealing a few weeks ago and our own Public Meeting last week.

We know many people from the Ealing and the Brent campaigns will be joining our march to support us and emphasize the London-wide opposition to these closures - let's make sure that this march is the biggest yet!

This is the last show of public feeling before the consultation closes on Monday 8th October when the joint campaigns will be handing their petitions - with over 50,000 signatures - to NW London NHS bosses.

The Programme of events is:

11am onwards:
Assemble ROCKLEY ROAD W12
(just south of Shepherds Bush Green - map)

12 Noon:
March moves off along South side of Shepherds Bush Green
Click HERE for Map of Route

1pm (approx)
in Lillie Road Recreational Ground:

RALLY

Speakers will include:

• Carlo Nero, Chair of Save our Hospitals Campaign
• Paul Kenny, General Secretary of GMB
• Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith
• A surprise celebrity (who we can't name yet!)

plus speakers from Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals' staff, and Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

There will be a band to lead the march and entertain us at the Rally

WE STILL NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO MAKE THE MARCH A SUCCESS:

PUBLICITY

It is vital that we publicise our MARCH, right up until the event itself. We will be all around Hammersmith and Fulham on Thursday and Friday leafleting the Rockley Road and Lillie Road areas, as well as holding a stall at Charing Cross on Thursday 12noon - 2pm. PLEASE help with leafleting on Thursday or Friday: check the website for more details or email campaign@saveourhospitals.net to find out how to volunteer.

MAKE SURE all your family, friends and neighbours know about the march! Pass on this email NOW to everyone you can - you would be surprised how many people STILL DON'T KNOW about these plans to shut A&Es!

STEWARDS
We still need stewards to help direct the march. It will not be an onerous task - you will just need to arrive a little earlier for a safety briefing and wear a yellow jacket which we will provide. But we DO NEED more volunteers: we have promised the police that we will be a well-organised and orderly march. We need lots of stewards to ensure everything runs smoothly. If you're coming anyway, why not volunteer by emailing campaign@saveourhospitals.net

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday,

Carlo

Carlo Nero, Chair, Save H&F Hospitals

The unity of these campaigners is in stark contrast to the deeply cynical and frankly contemptible tactics adopted by Chelsea & Westminster hospital, as they lobby for the closure of our hospitals in order to save their own skins. We don't need to play the game NHS NW London bosses want us to play, divide and rule, we need to come together instead - and I hope many of you do.