Croydon’s Labour MPs join forces to save the Mayday

Croydon two Labour MPs have used their first day in Parliament to demand clarity over the future of Croydon University Hospital (known locally as the Mayday).

Assurances sought

Steve Reed, MP for Croydon North, and Sarah Jones, MP for Croydon Central, wrote to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt seeking assurances that the hospital will not be closed or downgraded.

Plans drawn up by the NHS last October list the hospital as one of five sites across South West London which could be closed or downgraded in order to save money. Sarah Jones and Steve Reed are urging the Government to give Croydon University Hospital the same protected status as St George’s Hospital in Tooting, currently the only one of the five hospitals not under closure threat.

Labour to end hospital closures

The two Labour MPs made protecting NHS services in Croydon a central part of their General Election campaign. Labour’s manifesto pledged that all hospital closures would be stopped.

Steve Reed MP said:

Thousands of people backed Labour’s election campaign to keep the Mayday hospital open.  We now expect the Government to respect this democratic vote and protect the hospital.

Conservative candidates first said no hospital would close despite the fact the NHS consultation says one will, then claimed there was a secret Government plan to close one of the hospitals but wouldn’t say which one.

The fact is, the NHS plan clearly lists Croydon University Hospital as an option for closure.  We want closure ruled out by giving our hospital the same protected status as St George’s in Tooting.