It seems quite incredible that consideration is being given to reducing services at Mount Vernon Hospital.

It seems to conflict with the policy of reducing pollution since patients will have to travel further as will visitors. Ambulance use will be increased as many of these patients are not mobile.

On top of that it seems that the problems are to be added to even further by using Northolt as an overflow to Heathrow, increasing pollution further. Surely we are going to need this hospital to deal with the patients who suffer respiratory problems as a result. Hospitals keep moving further away while pollution gets greater. These two policies seem to conflict completely.

Mount Vernon is a marvellous hospital where all patients are treated as people. It is well organised and in a non-congested area with good access from most areas. Why destroy it in favour of something new when it might be a lot cheaper to spend less money improving it?

If this is New Labour policy then I am not impressed. More fumes, more illness, fewer casualty departments and now fewer hospitals in an area that has already lost one.

Mrs E.A Simmonds, Compton Rise,

Pinner

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