GMB London support socially distanced protest at Royal Brompton Hospital
GMB London support socially distanced protest on 14 December at Royal Brompton Hospital board meeting against merger and land grab
In September GMB London reported information about the proposed rundown of services at the Royal Brompton NHS Hospital and the unanimous vote by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council to oppose the sell-off of the hospital site for the development of luxury dwellings.
GMB London is supporting a socially distanced and safe-Covid-measures protest outside the Royal BROMPTON hospital on Monday 14 December against the merger of the Trust and the planned land grab.
The details of the protest are as follows:
11:00 am, Monday 14 December
Royal Brompton Hospital
Sydney Street
London
SW3 6NP
London
SW3 6NP
The protest is to be held the day before directors and executive board members of Royal Brompton Hospital are due to meet to sign off the ‘acquisition’ of the hospital in the merger with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Trust.
This is despite there being no public consultation on what effectively is the takeover of the Royal Brompton Hospital and its world-renowned specialist respiratory and cardiac services at the site.
The hospital, known as the heartbeat of the local area, will be taken over by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Trust, but the prime land site could eventually be sold to developers of luxury dwellings at prices most locals could never hope to afford but where social not luxury housing is desperately needed.
Councillor Ian Henderson, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea said:
“This is a shocking betrayal of our community”.
Vaughan West, GMB London Region Organiser said:
“GMB London have members working at the Royal Brompton Hospital, front line workers who throughout the pandemic have been nothing but heroic, providing vital medical services to the local community and beyond. The board hasn’t considered the impact this scheme will have on hospital staff, or the local area and economy, it's all about land grabbing and wealth.
“GMB London will do all it can to represent the wishes of our membership at the hospital, many of whom will be unable to transfer workplaces because of their personal circumstances. Job losses are a very real concern for our members at the Royal Brompton. GMB, opposes this scheme and any similar scheme that threatens our NHS and jobs in the NHS.”
Members of the local community and all local councillors are opposed to this acquisition and the inappropriate opaque way in which the process deliberately neglects to offer the local public a voice. Campaigners are now calling for a Public Inquiry into the sale of previous properties owned by the hospital trust.
GMB London supports the campaign to save the Royal Brompton Hospital and to save our NHS from the hands of property developers and company directors who think that it is acceptable to run down this invaluable national institution for profit.
In a bid to grow support for the campaign to save the Royal Brompton Hospital there are two petitions to sign and people should also write to Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea & Fulham.
End
Contact:
Vaughan West, GMB London Region Political Officer 079 6734 2197
Notes to Editors:
GMB London Region 28 September 2020 -
