The NHS costs each voter £50 a week on average. That's £2,600 a year each. We aren't getting our fair share here in Enfield by any means, and if Labour are re-elected they confirmed this month (January 2010) that they would close our fully fledged A&E department and lose our consultant led maternity unit.
In late 2003 Nick de Bois first identified that the government had plans to downgrade services at Chase Farm Hospital including the loss of our full fledged A&E department. Prior to the 2005 elecetion the plans were buried but then re-emerged shortly after. Since then, along with local campaign groups Nick has led the "Hands off our Hospital" campaign which culminated with a 9000 petition, lobbying of government ministers, a judicial challenge to Labour's cuts and securing a commitment from David Cameron to halt the cuts to Chase Farm's A&E department.
Pictured is Nick with the Leader of theConservative Party David Cameron, and Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley on their visit to Chase Farm in November 2007, to pledge their support for the campaign to keep our 24hr A&E and consultant-led maternity services.
Labour's record on healthcare in Enfield has been shocking:
- The government has pledged to close our 24 hour A&E unit at Chase Farm Hospital
- The consultant-led maternity will also be axed from Chase Farm, with it moving to Barnet Hospital
- The promised investment in Chase Farm Hospital before the 2005 General Election never took place
- Oue local PCT has a deficit of about £20 million. They have plans for implementing changes to our primary care services based on the flawed belief that we can downgrade our district hospital.
Enfield PCT have confirmed as recently as January 2010 that there will only be a 12 hour urgent care centre and overnight primary care service at Chase Farm Hospital - replacing the current fully-fledged 24 hour A&E department, Nick de Bois, Conservative candidate for Enfield North said:
"However Labour try to sell this, the bottom line is we won't have blue light ambulances going to Chase Farm. So if you have a heart attack, a stroke or some other kind of serious emergency you still can't be treated at Chase Farm. That is simply not good enough and David Cameron has pledged that a Conservative government would halt the cuts to Chase Farm".
- Nick de Bois led the Hands off our Hospital campaign representing thousands of local residents, taking their views to the government and health authorities
- Over 9,000 petitions were collected by the campaign and presented to the NHS Project Board
Get involved! There are lots of things you can do to help us get Fair Share Healthcare:
- Vote below in our online poll
- Help us deliver leaflets and campaign with us to get rid of this Labour government so that David Cameron can call a halt to the forced closures of A&E here at Chase Farm and across the country
Hold a house meeting where Nick de Bois will come and explain to your friends why change is so important (email Nick direct at nickdebois@enfieldnorth.org or phone / write)
The choice of Government at the next General Election is going to be a healthcare choice too. David Cameron has pledged that a Conservative government would halt the cuts to Chase Farm by imposing a moratorium on the plans and having them subject to a clinical, not financial based review.
Nick de Bois said "Chase Farm Hospital defines what 12 years of a Labour government have meant to Enfield. We can't go on like. It's time for change".
