South London Hospital staff get organised

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"The hospital is very popular with the local community" THE South London Hospital is still open and it will stay open. That is the message coming from the South London Hospital Campaign which met last week to decide how to carry the fight forward in the wake of the Wandsworth District Health Authority decision to recommend closure.

The meeting was well attended and had support from workers from St. Benedict's and other hospitals which have waged a battle against closure.

The workers in the South London Hospital have' also organised. They have formed an action committee and are meeting regularly to decide what steps they will take to oppose the attempted rundown which management will try to begin immediately.

Since District Health Authority meeting, which was well publicised following the disruption of the voting, offers of help and messages of support have been received continuously. The hospital is very popular with the local community and has a well deserved national reputation as a treatment centre for women.

The fight for the South London is just one of the many battles raging in London over hospital closures and is a reflection of the national position with the Tories attempting • to dismantle the NHS by privatisation and cutting services.

The campaign meeting agreed to support a press conference of all the London groups opposing closure of their hospitals. That kind of publicity will highlight the viciousness of the Tory attacks on the health of the working class.

If workers in hospitals HELE could examine the books of the Health Authorities they would soon see that there is money available - money to spend on expensive brand name drugs to increase profits for already rich drug companies and money to pay for food and drink for prestige administrative and medical meetings.

But there is no money to give patients a decent breakfast and no money to hire enough staff to keep the wards clean.

Wreck

The Tories are determined to wreck the health service and our health workers and the community are fighting against it.

With solid support, the South London can stay open and lead the fightback -you can help by inviting speakers, passing resolutions of support, sending donations and contacting the campaign to find out what activites are planned.

Messages of support to: South London Hospital Action Committee, South London Hospital, Clapham Common, London SW4.

Donations to: South London Women's Hospital Campaign, 4 Louvaine Road, London SW11.

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