The Prime Minister called the bluff of Andrew Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith, for “spreading disinformation” about Charing Cross Hospital, during a session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) this week in the House of Commons.
Mr Slaughter asked a question on Wednesday in which he accused the Prime Minister of proposing to demolish Charing Cross, saying this would mean patients would be left without beds and cause delays to treatment. However, David Cameron hit back saying “The truth is that, nationwide, 94% of people have so far this year been seeing a doctor within four hours at A&E. But everybody in this House knows, and everybody who is a neighbouring Member of Parliament of the hon. Gentleman knows, that he is absolutely instrumental in spreading disinformation campaign, after disinformation campaign, about his local hospitals. For once, he should take the truth and put it in a leaflet.”
As most local people know, the existing 1970s tower block at Charing Cross is in poor condition. It is to be demolished and replaced with a brand new hospital at the same site, with an A&E service, and is also set to become a leading centre in elective surgery.
However, Andrew Slaughter and the Labour Party in Hammersmith and Fulham have instead decided to talk down Charing Cross Hospital and local NHS services, with a campaign of scaremongering. They have repeatedly told residents, wrongly, that the Conservatives plan to shut the A&E department, neglecting to mention that it will be replaced with a new state-of-the-art facility.
In contrast to Andrew Slaughter’s claims that “the A&E will close”, the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt said that he could “absolutely confirm” that Charing Cross will retain its A&E. In contrast to Labour’s lies that it is “not a real A&E”, Charing Cross will continue to offer 24/7 emergency care with the full range of diagnostics and recovery beds. It will have the same specification as more than two–thirds of the A&Es across England.
Anyone who arrives at the hospital with an accident or emergency 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, will be cared for. Usually this will be in the hospital. If a decision is made that better specialist care could be provided elsewhere they will be taken by ambulance to where this is available.
Contrary to the claim that there are spending cuts, the NHS in north-west London is getting £3.6 billion this year. That is £100 million more than last year. It is matter of providing the most effective care with the money available.
Local MP, Greg Hands, understands as well as anyone the importance of the facility for local people in Fulham and Chelsea and, indeed his late brother was treated for cancer for many years at Charing Cross. Greg said, “Charing Cross is an excellent and valued hospital, with which I have deep personal ties. The rebuilding will leave it capable of providing even better services in the future, becoming a leading centre of excellence for elective surgery.
“It is high time Labour stopped spreading fear and false rumours about the hospital, and attempting to mislead voters. They would do better focusing on the economic recovery that Britain has seen over the last four years, which is enabling us to keep funding the NHS, and to continue to provide better healthcare services. The real risk to Charing Cross comes from Labour, who would break the British economy again, and without a growing economy, the NHS won’t get the money it needs. ”