The Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has publicly condemned Andrew Slaughter’s irresponsible campaign on Charing Cross Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department, during Health Questions in the House of Commons Chamber today.
For several months now, Andrew Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith, has been using the issue of Charing Cross as a scaremongering tactic to misleadingly claim that the A&E department would be closed. This despite the fact its future having been guaranteed by both David Cameron and Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt.
During last month’s local elections, Labour ran an entirely negative campaign, focusing on the Charing Cross Hospital. Labour claimed that the hospital would be “demolished”, without giving the important fact that it would be replaced by an entirely new building on the same site, with an Accident & Emergency unit. The Labour Party distributed a dramatic image of the Grim Reaper looming over a Charing Cross Hospital tombstone.
Responding to a question on the future of Charing Cross A&E, Jeremy Hunt told Slaughter: “Can I point out to him that the way he has campaigned on these issues has been totally irresponsible. He put out leaflets in the local election campaign, saying that Charing Cross Hospital will be demolished, what he failed to mention that it was going to be rebuilt as a brand new hospital, with an A&E department. When it is re-opened, I hope he doesn’t get invited unless he apologises to his constituents for the way he has presented this issue.”
Greg Hands MP, who represents the neighbouring constituency of Chelsea and Fulham, which is also served by Charing Cross, was also in the Commons Chamber to listen to the exchange, and later commented: “Charing Cross Hospital and its A&E is important, and serves many thousands of my constituents. I have long been concerned by the misinformation that Andrew Slaughter and his accomplices in the local Labour party have been putting out Charing Cross. Slaughter is well aware that the NHS is rebuilding it as a brand new hospital, with an A&E. Once again, Hammersmith Labour have been exposed for putting politics before patients and residents.”
The Prime Minister and his family have also used Charing Cross hospital, and he has guaranteed it a bright future. The week before the local elections, the Prime Minister himself visited H&F to confirm Charing Cross will retain its A&E and other services. During the visit Mr Cameron said: "Slaughter is not giving the true facts. Charing Cross will retain its A&E and services, it will still be a very good hospital with a fantastic cancer care unit.”
Greg added: “My late brother was treated for 12 years in the Charing Cross for cancer, and I would not sit quietly if the hospital were in any way under threat.” Greg was sat next to Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, and also a former hospital user, when he announced to the House of Commons in the Autumn that A&E services would be there in the new hospital.