Have Your Say On Stroke/Trauma Service Overhaul

People are being urged to have their say on the proposals to overhaul stroke and trauma services across the capital.

Under the Healthcare for London plans, Ealing Hospital's stroke unit would close and patients would be taken to a specialist unit at Charing Cross or Northwick Park Hospital which are both estimated to be within a 30-minute ambulance journey.

The NHS hopes to save around 500 lives a year by centralising services and now councillors from every borough will be taking part in a London-wide consultation to look at the issue in detail.

Councillor Greg Stafford, who chairs Ealing's Health, Housing and Adult Social Services Scrutiny Panel, will be representing Ealing on the committee.

Cllr Stafford said: "I urge Ealing residents to find out about the detailed consultation proposals and respond to them before the 8 May deadline.

"We need to understand the impact of the proposals on local people and also on Ealing Hospital and ensure that we get the best possible deal for residents across the borough."

In Ealing the issue will also be considered at the Scrutiny Panel meeting on 26 March and NHS Ealing, formerly Ealing Primary Care Trust, is holding a health fair on 15 April.

To view the proposals, visit www.healthcareforlondon.nhs.uk or email views to
scrutiny@ealing.gov.uk