Lewisham: Rally against cuts to hospitals' A&E

A call has been made for South-east Londoners to join a protest against cuts and changes in hospital and health services - reports icSouthLondon.

Greenwich Unison and campaign group Keep Our NHS Public are urging people to join a national march and rally on Saturday.

Proposals for the region have provoked widespread anguish and have been slammed by MPs for being "a step too far".

In the past year the hospitals have made millions of pounds worth of savings and cut hundreds of jobs.

Last month, recommendations that emergency and critical care should be axed from two of the region's four cash-strapped hospitals were revealed.

The proposal came out of a review of health services in Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley led by the boroughs' primary care trusts.

In the document A Picture of Health, the trusts outlined their aim to save cash and improve services by relocating some hospital treatments to centres closer to people's homes and by concentrating specialist services in fewer hospitals.

No firm decisions have been made but a key consideration is likely to be the economic argument to keep full services at the hospitals with the biggest private finance debts - Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich and Princess Royal in Bromley.

London: Hospital cuts 'step too far' say MPs

Doctors and nurses have recommended emergency and critical care should be axed from TWO hospitals - reports the South London Press.

The aim is to cut costs and improve services for the one million residents of South-east London.

The surprise outcome was the result of months of discussions by 100 clinicians from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, Lewisham Hospital, Queen Mary's Sidcup (QMS) and Bromley Hospitals.

It was expected they would suggest that one accident and emergency department should close.

Shocked MPs have described the proposal to reduce the number of acute hospitals to two in the area as too drastic and a "step too far".

The medics were asked by the primary care trusts to consider ways specialist services could be concentrated at fewer sites.

As outlined in their document, A Picture of Health, the PCTs also want to provide many hospital treatments closer to people's homes.

No decisions on which hospitals will be downgraded will be made until the outcome of a review into how extra services in the community could be provided and a public consultation is held.

John Austin, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, said: "Reducing major acute trauma centres in South-east London from four to two is a change too far."

Eltham MP Clive Efford said: "I would not support any relocation of services until there are sufficient alternative services in place that are seen to be meeting people's needs."

London: Vital officers face axe to save money

SOUTH London's crime-ridden estates could get even worse if plans to scrap key police officers are accepted - reports the South London Press.

An official document has revealed the Met is facing a massive cash shortfall.

It means police chiefs across Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Wandsworth are bracing themselves for a series of cutbacks which could cripple services.

One area they have been told they must rein in is spending on crime prevention - with nearly all South London's specialist officers now facing the chop.

The South London Press understands their vital work handing out advice to the public and "designing out crime" on building projects will be taken over by safer neighbourhood teams.

But senior police sources have warned the cutbacks could have "critical implications" for crime prevention across South London.

One said: "Each crime prevention officer [CPO] has developed skills in particular areas of the profession and acts as an unofficial consultant for others who have not got the same amount of knowledge in that aspect of that field.

"Sadly, with the continued expansion of housing and the static size of the number of officers, the importance of well designed new builds is critical. Otherwise I suspect there will be a steady increase in crime."

In a leaked note, the Met's deputy commissioner, Paul Stephenson, warned every borough in the force faces serious challenges ahead.

He said: "Based on current predictions, the Met is facing a shortfall in funding for the next three financial years. Each business group has been asked to offer up a minimum one per cent of their budget as savings.

"The position is challenging. We are required to deliver a balanced budget, deliver efficiency savings to a nationally agreed level, but at the same time meet stretching performance requirements for tackling crime and keeping London safe."

It is believed the minimum one per cent cut represents tens of millions of pounds from each force's budget.

Lewisham: Plea over service cuts for old folk

Community groups are campaigning to raise awareness of potential cuts to elderly and disabled people's services - reports the South London Press.

Lewisham council could slash adult social care services for people assessed as having substantial needs.

A consultation period for the changes has been extended by a month to September 15.

Lewisham Mencap and Age Concern Lewisham are pleading with people to make their views known.

Both charities believe if the cuts go ahead their clients' conditions may worsen, and that many people probably don't know what is being considered by the council.

Nick O'Shea, of Lewisham Mencap, said: "We have been rallying parents, holding meetings and getting people to fill out the consultation forms.

Lewisham council is considering three options, including only providing non-residential adult social care to those with "critical" and "greater substantial" needs.

It is believed if the cuts go ahead it will affect 580 people and save the council around £1.6million.

Chris Lunn, of Age Concern Lewisham, said: "We recognise the council has to make decisions but we want to present the case for older people as strongly as possible.

"We are asking people to really consider how this will impact on themselves, their family and those who already need these services.

"There is a lot of evidence that shows people in these circumstances get worse quickly without help and end up needing intensive and very expensive services instead."