On Saturday 8 July we commemorated the saving of Lewisham A&E, maternity and essentially the whole hospital in 2013. At the same time we marked the 75th birthday which is in an unparalleled state of crisis.
Because of forecast thunder showers, we moved the event to Lewisham Hospital Wellness Garden which was undercover – thank you so much to the Lewisham and Greenwich Trust for facilitating this. We sent out email newsletters and plastered social media with the information. In fact there were two heavy downpours which would have ruined our cakes, decorations and leaflets.
Louise Irvine, Chair of our Campaign unveiled a bench with former Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock who was Mayor at the time, to commemorate this historic victory. There speeches from campaigners, patients, Councillor Paul Bell, Cabinet member for Health, and Vicky Foxcroft MP. A refuse truck was decorated with NHS 75th birthday and 10 years since the hospital was saved messages.
Louise Irvine spoke about the many strands in the community had come together so powerfully to create the Save Lewisham Hospital campaign. Chidi Ejimofo, A&E Consultant spoke for the hospital, as did former clinicians Ruth Cochrane (maternity) and Tony O’Sullivan (children) – all had been centrally involved on the hospital side in the campaign. Simone Boothe, campaigner and patient spoke movingly of how her life had been saved by Lewisham Hospital and the NHS. Councillor Paul Bell and former Mayor Steve Bullock spoke of the importance of saving the hospital for the community. Vicky Foxcroft MP spoke about memories of the campaign. In the next days we will create a video of the speeches.
It was wonderful to meet up with old campaigners and people who have supported us along the way. And very good to collaborate with Lewisham Council who strongly supported the event in both organisation and on the day.
