CAMPAIGNERS say Harefield Hospital is under threat from proposed changes at the Royal Brompton.
The London hospital forms one half of a Foundation Trust with Harefield, and is preparing for a judicial review of plans to close its children's heart surgery.
But Harefield watchers say this will lead to a 10 per cent reduction in funds for the Trust, which will manifest itself in redundancies, service cuts and even put the future of the hospitals themselves at risk.
David Potter, chairman of patient support group the Re-Beat Club, said: "It could be the beginning of the end for the Trust as we know it, which would be absolutely disastrous for Harefield's community."
Mr Potter was also vice-chairman of the famous Heart of Harefield campaign group, which fought off plans to relocate the hospital in Hill End Road to Paddington, more than a decade ago.
This battle led to the famous heart hospital joining forces with the Royal Brompton.
Now a review of children's heart surgery in London has concluded there is a surplus Ð and the Royal Brompton is in the firing line.
"What the review has not taken into account is the knock-on effect will be if the surgery is removed," said Mr Potter.
"If it loses paediatric surgery then the paediatric care unit would close, meaning the Brompton would no longer be able to care for those with cystic fibrosis.
"It could reduce turnover by 10 per cent, which would of course reduce staff at Harefield Hospital and prejudice the whole future of the trust."
Campaigners have been digging out old contacts from the Heart of Harefield days, to alert residents to the hospital's potential plight.
Mr Potter has recommended residents write to MPs to voice their worries, and urge them to get involved.
The Gazette has reported how a £50million expansion project for Harefield Hospital has been put on hold.
The Royal Brompton and Harefield Foundation Trust will find out on July 13 if its request for a judicial review will be granted. It argues the consultation on the plans to close down its children's heart surgery was fundamentally flawed.
An online petition against the review's findings has already attracted 26,000 signatures.
A Trust spokeswoman said: "The loss of children’s heart surgery will cost the trust more than ten per cent of its annual income - approximately £30million Ð this is before the cost of adult congenital heart disease services is factored in."
BLOB You can sign the online petition at www.thebromptonfountain.org.uk
