by CAROLINE COOLEY A worried South Harrow pensioner is calling on the community to set up a fund to save Mount Vernon Hospital.
Violet Bramley is so devastated by the news that services are to be broken up at the Northwood hospital, which serves many in the west of Harrow, that she wants everyone who has benefited from its care to donate at least one pound a week.
"I would personally move heaven and earth to save it," the 93-year-old, of Leamington Crescent, said.
"I cannot do much physically but I would happily give £1 a week to stop services being cut."
She said her family have been attending the hospital for years and is eternally grateful to staff there who have been treating her 72-year-old daughter who has had cancer of the bowels and ovary.
"She is a walking miracle," Mrs Bramley said. "She was given only 48 hours to live at one point but she pulled through and is now in remission.
"I would be devastated if services were cut, I wouldn't go anywhere else. Thankfully my 10 great grandchildren do not live in Harrow.
"I'm too old to organise a fund myself but if a company or group could do anything to help I will try my best to offer mine."
Brent and Harrow Health Authority and Hillingdon Health Authority are currently holding public consultations on plans to cut services at Mount Vernon.
The accident and emergency department was closed in 1994 but proposals to move medical services, including general surgery, because of funding difficulties, to Hillingdon Hospital have been widely condemned by residents and councillors in the Harrow area.
Plans to split the hospital's world famous burns and plastics unit and move half of it to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital have also provoked criticism.
More than 4,700 signatures have already been collected for a petition organised by the Pinner Association.
If anyone would like to help stop the changes, write in with your ideas to the Harrow Times Series, 71 Church Road, Hendon, NW4 4DN.
A meeting about the plans will take place in the Roland Brown Hall, St Helen's School, Carew Road, Northwood on Thursday at 7.30pm.
See letters p8
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