Heidi Alexander speaking against the closure of Lewisham A&E. Pic: Ellie Slee

Lewisham MP Heidi Alexander has announced that she has secured a 90 minute parliamentary debate over the recommended closures of Lewisham A&E and maternity unit.

Since the proposals to reduce Lewisham’s admitting A&E to a non-admitting urgent care centre were announced by the government-appointed Trust Special Administrator on November 2, Alexander has been campaigning to stop the proposals being accepted by secretary for health Jeremy Hunt.

The MP took to Twitter to make the announcement, and tweeted: “Just found out I have secured a 90 min debate in Parliament next Tues on future of A&E & maternity services in South London #SaveLewishamAE.”

The adjournment debates at Westminster Hall are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week, and are used as a space for individual MPs to raise issues of importance that are affecting their constituencies. Alexander, along with two other Lewisham MPs, has already met with Hunt to set out a case for why the proposals should not be accepted.

The recommendations made by the South London Healthcare Trust administrator, Matthew Kershaw, have proved highly unpopular with residents of Lewisham. Seven year old Ella, from the borough, wrote a letter to Hunt, saying: “Please don’t close Lewisham Hospital where I was born.”

Save Lewisham Hospital have organised a protest on January 26, and the health secretary is expected to make his decision by early February. For more information on how to get involved in the Save Lewisham Hospital campaign, click here.