Press Release: Dame Joan Ruddock Condemns TSA Process as a “Sham and a Shambles”

Dame Joan Ruddock MP today condemned the TSA process, saying that “Lewisham should never have been dragged into this process”. The MP said that the Secretary of State’s announcement that Lewisham’s maternity services would be downgraded and the A&E reduced would be “unacceptable in Lewisham”.  

She said:

“The only reason the Secretary of State has not accepted the TSA proposals in full is because of the total opposition of the vast majority of local consultants, local GPs including the GP Commissioning Group and over 50,000 local people who actively opposed the closure of Lewisham A&E and downgrading of maternity services

“Today’s proposals are a sham and a shambles and totally unacceptable.

“The rushed TSA process and its botched consultation are not suitable for the major reconfiguration the Secretary of State proposes.

“ I am calling on the Secretary of State to allow the GP Commissioning Group to do the job they were set up to do - to consult properly about the proposed merger between Lewisham and Woolwich in a way that meets the clinical needs of the people of Lewisham 

“I am also looking for financial assurances that Lewisham will not be dragged into a new unsustainable trust.”

Yesterday JIm Dowd MP (Lewisham West & Penge), Heidi Alexander MP (Lewisham East) and I joined Lewisham Hospital campaigners outside the Department of Health to demonstrate against the closure of Lewisham's A&E and maternity services.  

The Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP, is expected to make a statement on the future of the hospital and South London Healthcare NHS Trust between 11.00am and 11.30am this morning.

Saturday's march once again saw an excellent turnout, with tens of thousands of campaigners coming out in protest against the closure of Lewisham Hospital's A&E and maternity services.

As I have said before, this is the greatest level of support I have seen for any campaign in all my 25 years as an MP.  Lewisham has an excellent hospital and there is an overwhelming sense of anger and frustration that local care may be compromised in order to pay for another trust's debts.

The Health Secretary's statement on the future of South London Healthcare NHS Trust and Lewisham Hospital is expected on Thursday morning.

Last week I signed the Holocaust Memorial Day Book of Commitment in the House of Commons.  

Sunday 27th January will mark the 68th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history.  The Holocaust Educational Trust has placed a Book of Commitment in the Commons, giving MPs the chance to honour those who were persecuted and killed during the Holocaust and to encourage constituents to work together to combat racism and prejudice today.

In the weeks surrounding Holocaust Memorial Day thousands of commemorative events will be held by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country. 

Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity to remember the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.  I encourage all constituents to mark the day and to join members of the community in the fight against prejudice and intolerance.

An investigation conducted by the World Society for the Protections of Animals (WSPA) has revealed disturbing evidence of animal cruelty and massive conservation and financial failures at the Cayman Turtle Farm.

Despite marketing itself as a conservation-focused tourist attraction, the Cayman Turtle Farm is the world's last remaining facility to commercially raise sea turtles for slaughter and consumption.

Some 7000 endangered sea turtles have been effectively immobilised and stockpiled in filthy, tiny tanks.  The animals become extremely stressed due to overcrowding and in-breeding causes their young to be born with severe deformities.

Last night Jim Dowd MP (Lewisham West and Penge), Heidi Alexander MP (Lewisham East) and I met with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to outline our opposition to the proposals to close Lewisham Hospital's A&E and maternity services.

We presented him with a document in which we outlined why the proposals fail the Government's four tests on hospital reconfiguration.  You can read the document in full here.

The proposals to close the A&E and maternity services are dangerous and ill-conceived.  Destroying a successful hospital by closing vital services is not in the best interests of the people of Lewisham, nor is it financially necessary.

Dame Joan Ruddock, Member of Parliament for Lewisham Deptford, announced today that she will not be contesting the next general election. 

Dame Joan said: 

“After 25 years in Parliament I think it’s time for the constituency party to have a new candidate. It has been an enormous privilege to be a Member of Parliament and a Minister and a joy to serve my diverse and dynamic constituency.

“It will of course be business as usual for the next two years – not least in the battle to save Lewisham Hospital’s A&E and maternity services.“

On Tuesday Joan obtained an Urgent Question forcing the Secretary of State for Health to answer questions about the proposed closures at Lewisham Hospital.  On Wednesday she further pressed the Prime Minister on the issue and he confirmed that there should be no closures or reorganisations if criteria were not met. On Monday she and other colleagues will be meeting the Secretary Of State.

Joe Perry, Chair of Lewisham Deptford Constituency Labour Party said:

"Joan's contribution in Lewisham, the Labour Party and Parliament over the last 25 years has been immense. She has been a dedicated campaigner for her constituents and has vigorously fought for the rights of the downtrodden and oppressed. Her tireless campaigning on women's rights and the environment have helped shape policy internationally."

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Opposition said: 

“Joan Ruddock has been a fantastic MP for Lewisham Deptford. Parliament will really miss her wise words, her formidable campaigning skills and her huge knowledge across a wide range of areas, especially equality issues.

“Joan has been a passionate advocate for the Labour Party over many years and I know she will continue to care deeply about the people of Lewisham Deptford.

“I personally will miss Joan’s good humour and friendship from the Labour benches.” 

This week Shelter launched a campaign to encourage people to respond to the GLA's consultation on a London Rental Standard.  

The proposed voluntary accreditation scheme for landlords could improve conditions for thousands of London renters.  With more than one in four Londoners living in private rented accommodation and more and more families entering the sector every year, the London Rental Standard could be a timely intervention.

For more information on Shelter's campaign and to respond to the Mayor's consultation via their website visit http://homesforlondon.org.uk/.

Today in the Commons I forced the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP, to answer an urgent question on the Trust Special Administrator’s report on South London Healthcare NHS Trust and the NHS in South East London (published today).

I questioned the powers of the Trust Special Administrator to try to solve the financial problems of the South London Healthcare Trust by destroying Lewisham Hospital Trust:

“120,000 people use Lewisham A&E each year. Over 30,000 children use the Children’s A&E. Over 4000 babies are born in the hospital each year. There is no current capacity at any of the other hospitals in the area to provide for these patients.”

In response the Secretary of State said that any reconfiguration had to satisfy the following four points:

1. Support from GP commissioners

2. Strengthened public and patient engagement

3. Clarity on the clinical evidence base; and

4. Consistency with current and prospective patient choice

The Secretary of State appears to accept that this is a reconfiguration but it’s clear that none of his four tests are met by these proposals. This will be the basis of our continuing campaign to save the hospital. 

The three Lewisham MPs will be meeting urgently with the Secretary of State to put all the arguments raised by local experts and the Save Lewisham Hospital campaign.