Lewisham A&E downgraded
An A&E department and maternity services at a major hospital will be downgraded, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told MPs, just days after more than 25,000 people protested against the plans.
A&E closure could set 'dangerous precedent' for NHS
Jeremy Hunt is expected will make an announcement later today about the future of Lewisham Hospital's emergency department and maternity services.
The Health Secretary will make a statement on whether the south London hospital's emergency department should be replaced with an 'urgent care' ward and whether its maternity services into a midwife-led unit - proposals that have prompted demonstrations and petitions.
The closures are part of a radical overhaul proposed by a special administrator in response to nearby South London Healthcare NHS Trust (SLHT) going into administration after it started losing around £1.3 million a week.
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham warns that if the proposals are implemented it could set a "dangerous precedent" for the rest of the NHS.
"If that were to be approved, I believe it would set a dangerous precedent to the NHS when the NHS is taking out A&E capacity on the basis of finance, not on care and quality, and that is a line over which the Government must not cross," he said.
More top news
-
Joe Biden vows to fight racial inequality with economic agenda
The Democratic presidential candidate may also have shown his cards on his choice of running mate.
-
Trump reverts to promoting unproven drug as coronavirus treatment
The US president also shared a post on Twitter accusing Dr Anthony Fauci of misleading the public over hydroxychloroquine.
-
What the papers say – July 29
Fears over an impending second wave of coronavirus dominates Wednesday’s front pages.