A peaceful demonstration is set to be held in Sutton this Sunday to protest against the closure of acute services at St Helier.
Carshalton and Wallington Labour Party, the GMB union (of Epsom and St Helier workers ) and hospital campaigners, will protest on the green opposite St Helier at around 3 pm, on July 26.
The protest comes after Belmont was chosen as the site for a new, state-of-the-art emergency healthcare facility in the area, despite opposition from many residents who worried it would sideline emergency care in St Helier and Merton.
The plans will see 'six major' services including, A&E, critical care and emergency surgery be combined and moved to a new site in Belmont.
See more: Sutton chosen for site of new emergency care facility
Under the proposals, around 85% of current services will stay put at Epsom and St Helier.
The protest will see campaigners wearing masks with red crosses to symbolise, "valid concerns about the move of acute services away from local hospitals.”
Campaigners say, "CCGs failed to carry out a proper public consultation and failed to properly publicise the public information events they did hold.
They went onto say, the CCGs failed to 'honestly' communicate the proposed plans and how they will affect residents.
A spokesperson for the campaign group said: "Patient's lives will be put at risk with longer travel times to Belmont.
"And many patients having to travel to other already oversubscribed hospitals in the region.
"There will be a cut in the number of acute beds and consultants.
"The status of St Helier and Epsom Hospitals will be downgraded from University Hospitals to District Hospitals.
"We are calling on Sutton Council, Epsom and Ewell Council and Croydon Council to follow Merton's lead and refer the decision back to the Secretary of State."
See more at: Merton Council to address health secretary over St Helier 'downgrade'
"Once gone we can never get it back."
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